asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the number of automatic machines licensed for the sale of tobacco in respect of the years 1928-29 and 1929-30 respectively; the number of persons licensed to deal in tobacco in those years, and the number of premises in respect of which they were licensed, or alternatively the number of premises in respect of which persons were licensed to deal in tobacco.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Tobacco.
No official records are available to show the number of automatic machines in respect of which tobacco dealers' licences have been issued. Exact information as to the number of persons licensed and the number of premises in respect of which they were licensed or the number of premises in respect of which persons were licensed could only be ascertained after a very detailed scrutiny of the Departmental records. The number of licences to deal in tobacco issued during the financial year 1928-29 was 35,561, and this may be taken approximately to correspond with the number of premises licensed. Particulars of the licences issued since 1st April, 1929, have not yet been aggregated.