asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the number of cinemas erected and reconstructed since the introduction of building control; (b) the names of the towns in which these buildings are situated; (c) the cases in which licences were issued; (d) the number and the outcome of the prosecutions against those who did not hold a building licence or permit; (e) whether cinemas erected without licence or permit are permitted to carry on showing films, and (f) whether any prosecutions are now pending; and, further, if he will give similar information under the same headings in regard to dance halls and other places of amusement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cinemas Erected and Reconstructed.
As the reply is somewhat lengthy and detailed I propose, with the Ceann Comhairle's permission, to circulate it with the Official Report.
So far as the records kept under the Control of Building Order disclose the position the following is the information which the Deputy seeks:—
(a) The number of cinemas erected and cinemas on which building repair work, including reconstruction work, was carried out since 1st July, 1945, is 80.
(b) the towns in which these buildings are situated are: Nenagh, Ballyshannon, Cappoquin, Cork, Ferns, Ballybofey, Ballyhaunis, Banagher, Kenmare, Athlone, Dundalk, Skerries, Granard, Cahir, Clones, Kilkee, Kilkenny, Mountrath, Carnew, Abbeyfeale, Kilrush, Tullamore, Wexford, Ballina, Longford, Scariff, Carlingford, Greystones, Dún Laoghaire, Swords, Dublin, Drogheda, Bray, Navan, Ennis, Doneraile, Templemore, Bundoran, Limerick, Letterkenny, Tralee, Castlebar, Westport, Belturbet, Ballymote, Castleisland, Thurles, Ballinagh, Glin, Midleton, Roscommon, Ballybay, Ballyconnell, Castlemaine, Mooncoin, Carrick-on-Shannon.
(c) Building licences were issued in 74 cases.
(d) In five cases legal proceedings were instituted and fines totalling £745 and one sentence (later remitted) of two months' imprisonment were imposed.
(e) I have no power to prevent the showing of films in cinemas constructed without the authority of building licences.
(f) There is one case of prosecution pending against a cinema proprietor.
Similar information under the same headings in regard to dance halls and other places of amusement is as follows:—
(a) The number of buildings erected and the number of buildings on which repair and reconstruction work was carried out since the 1st July, 1945, is 162.
(b) The towns in which these buildings are situated are: Boherlahan Cashel, Edgeworthstown, Tuam, Burt, Dundalk, Toomevara, Conna, Crossmolina, Athlone, Dublin, Clonfaulough Athlone, Gurteen Woodlawn, Laurencestown Ballinasloe, Castlebar, Ballinasloe, Bray, Blessington, Ballyconnell, Limerick, Cootehall Boyle, Currandulla, Kildysart, Fintown, Drumkeerin, Shercock, Urlingford, Droichead Nua, Lenamore Rathowen, Duleek, Dunmanway, Shanagolden, Nenagh, Cloghan, Ballyjamesduff, Ballinamuck, Kiltealy Enniscorthy, Mooncoin, Galway, Clonroche, Milford (County Donegal), Ballyconnell Tullow, Madavagh Lettermacaward, Clonmany, Askeaton, Fethard-on-Sea, Swanlinbar, Monksland Carlingford, Kilkenny, Cork, Bundoran, Wexford, Roscrea, Cavan, Dún Laoghaire, Crosshaven, Clones, Kells, Johnstown, Enniscorthy, Mullingar, Borris-in-Ossory, Bagenalstown, Thurles, Waterford, Clondalkin, Kildare, Monageet, Ferns, Curragh Camp, Little Island, Charleville, Kilcroney, Lahinch, Strandhill, Kanturk, Navan, Clonea Dungarvan, Dunkineely, Leabgarrow Arranmore, Youghal, Malahide, Tramore, Wicklow, Laytown, Salthill, Tipperary, Kilear, Enniskerry, Daingean, Ballylongford, Naas, Baldoyle, Kilbeggan, Ballybrit, Mallow, Clounanna Adare, Ballina, Arklow, Ratoath, Mountmellick, Ballinatray, Farranfore, Roscommon Tarmonbarry, Mitchelstown, Ardfert, Causeway, Castlerea, Barraduff, Scartaglen, Bellaghy Charlestown, Mullinavat, Rathduff Grenagh, Westport.
(c) Building licences were issued in 146 cases.
(d) Legal proceedings were instituted in 14 cases and fines totalling £389 3s. were imposed.
(e) I have no power to prevent the showing of films in dance halls and other places of amusement.
(f) There are two cases of prosecution pending against the proprietors of dance halls.
Is the idea of giving a reply of this nature to a question of this kind to prevent supplementary questions that might follow?
If a question is in tabular form or is lengthy, it is the established custom, with the permission of the Chair, to have it published in the Official Report.
There is a long list of places where buildings were erected. I do not know if the Deputy wants me to read them out. I can give the Deputy the replies to other parts of the question if he wishes. The usual thing with a lengthy reply of this sort is to have it published in the Official Report.
That is the established practice.
Let it go as it is, so.
One day the Deputy objects to supplementary statements and the next day he wants to have them.
This is a free country.