Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 3

Written Answers. - Liquor Licence Renewal.

John Connor

Question:

60 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Finance if he will seek details from the Revenue Commissioners of all intoxicating liquor licences which were renewed in the last three licensing years submitted not trading in the application for clearance in relation to their turnover. [22955/96]

John Connor

Question:

61 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Finance the number of intoxicating liquor licences which were cleared in each of the turnover bands applicable for the past three years. [22956/96]

John Connor

Question:

62 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details, in co-operation with the Revenue Commissioners, of the exact number of intoxicating liquor licences which were issued on a per county basis for each of the past three clearance years. [22957/96]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 61 and 62 together.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that records are not maintained in such a manner as would enable the information requested by the Deputy in relation to intoxicating liquor licences renewed in the last three licensing years, which were shown as not trading in applications for tax clearance certificates, to be given without the expenditure of an inordinate amount of official time. However, I am informed that the number of such cases is very small.

I am also informed by the Revenue Commissioners that spirit retailers on licences (publicans) are the only intoxicating liquor licences on which the rates of duty are based on the levels of annual turnover of the business to which the licence relates less the amount of turnover of any excluded business activity (i.e. a business activity which is conducted in a part of the licensed premises and which is not related to the sale of alcoholic beverages). The number of spirit retailers on licences which were issued in each of the level of turnover bands for the licensing years 1993-4, 1994-5 and 1995-6 are detailed in Table A.

Table A

Level of Turnover	Number of licences issued
1993-4	1994-5	1995-6
under £150,000	7,240	6,983	6,743
£150,000 but less than
£300,000	1,584	1,715	1,758
£300,000 but less than
£500,000	582	670	667
£500,000 but less than
£750,000	310	331	337
£750,000 but less than
£1,000,000	143	148	180
£1,000,000 or more	144	182	217

The total number of intoxicating liquor licences which were issued on a county basis over the last three years are detailed in Table B. These licences include manufacturers (e.g. brewers, cidermakers, distillers, compounders, made wine and mead makers); dealers (i.e. wholesalers) in spirits, beer, wine etc; retailers of spirits, wines, beer cider, etc., both on and off the premises. It also includes passenger vessels, airports, special restaurant licences, racecourse and racetrack licences.

Table B

County	Number of licences issued
1993-4	1994-5	1995-6
Carlow	166	156	150
Cavan	289	293	325
Clare	511	531	508
Cork	1,894	1,842	1,918
Donegal	653	650	670
Dublin	1,575	1,593	1,789
Galway	904	923	932
Kerry	732	762	820
Kildare	305	310	337
Kilkenny	350	336	321
Laois	206	204	194
Leitrim	195	194	200
Limerick	611	628	687
Longford	156	151	170
Louth	315	321	355
Mayo	744	749	739
Meath	272	277	306
Monaghan	186	192	210
Offaly	180	185	192
Roscommon	339	331	341
Sligo	279	279	280
Tipperary	732	724	735
Waterford	451	442	425
Westmeath	256	269	287
Wexford	531	511	486
Wicklow	307	307	305
Total	13,139	13,150	13,682