asked the Minister for Finance if he will indicate the revenue obtained from dance entertainments duty for the period 1st August, 1947 to 1st February, 1948 and 1st August, 1957 to 1st February, 1958, the revenue obtained in respect of dances for which the admission charge was 1/- and under in both periods, and the cost of collection in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Revenue from Dance Entertainments Duty.
Entertainments duty was not chargeable in respect of dances in the period 1st August, 1947 to 1st February, 1948.
The net receipt of revenue from the entertainments duty in respect of dances for the period 1st August, 1957 to 1st February, 1958, was £89,000 approximately. It is not possible, without undue cost in time and labour, to state how much of this was paid in respect of particular admission charges or the relative costs of collection.
Can the Minister say how he compares the present with the past? This tax was withdrawn by Fianna Fáil on the grounds that it did not pay to collect it. Does it pay now? My information is that all halls are idle three days a week and half the musicians are working only three days a week.
The Deputy is making a speech.
Does it pay now as compared with the time when it was withdrawn by Fianna Fáil on the first occasion? I will put down a further question next week.