asked the Minister for Finance if he will name the twenty small towns to which he referred under the heading Rural Entertainment in his Budget speech.
Ceisteanna—Questions (Resumed). - Rural Entertainment.
13.
Broadly, but subject in particular to the operation of a three-mile limit, entertainments in towns having populations not exceeding 1,000 are free of duty whilst those in towns of populations between 1,000 and 2,000 are liable only to reduced rates of duty. On this broad basis, as a result of the 1956 census, liability to the reduced rates would be incurred in the following towns by reason of their populations having moved over the 1,000 mark:— Abbeyleix, Bailieborough, Ballybofey, Ballybunion, Banagher, Blarney, Buttevant, Carndonagh, Castlecomer and Donaguile (now amalgamated), Celbridge, Kenmare, Killorglin, Lucan and Doddsborough (now amalgamated), Maynooth, Millstreet, Monastervan, Mountrath, Moville, Newtownmountkennedy and Killadreenan (now amalgamated), Portlaw and Thomastown, whilst in the following towns liability at the full rates instead of the reduced rates would be incurred because of their populations having moved over 2,000:— Clara, Greystones, Kanturk and Rush.
I cannot say, however, in how many of these towns liability would, in fact, be affected as indicated. In the determination of liability, the census figures may be reduced by the number of persons resident in local institutions such as boarding schools, orphanages, hospitals, etc. The position in this respect of the towns I have mentioned has not been examined as the question of altered liability would not in any event arise until November next.
Would the Minister undertake to look into the case of Mountmellick, where there is a dance hall which is a gold mine and not a penny tax being paid? I shall write to the Minister to refresh his memory.
That area has not altered in population, according to my figures.
Nevertheless, they are paying no tax.