Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
247. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of publican licences issued over the past ten years, broken down by county, alongside the number of same licenses in each county not renewed in the same timeframe, in tabular form. [47047/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that the licensing year for Intoxicating Liquor Licences runs from 1 October to 30 September in respect of Publicans’ licences. Revenue also advises that while its annual report process includes the number of Publicans’ licences issued, it does not include a breakdown by county or the number of Publicans’ licences not renewed.
While a breakdown by county has been collated for the five most recent licensing periods ending 30 September 2021 to 2025 it was not possible to provide a breakdown by county for prior years within the permitted timeframe.
It should be noted that the Courts Service maintain the licensing register and the status of each Publican’s licence. Revenue’s role is limited to issuing licences where the relevant Court has granted the application and the applicant produces to Revenue the requisite statutory proofs. The Courts deal with such matters as objections to the licence, transfers, revivals, extinguishments and probate. Where a Publican’s licence is not renewed during the annual licensing period, Revenue awaits instruction from the Courts. The Annual Licensing Courts are held in September, at the same time as Revenue generates its annual report of licences issued. Any licences remaining un-renewed on Revenue’s records at that point may subsequently be renewed; accordingly reported figures are subject to change.
Table 1 sets out the number of licences issued, broken down by county, for the most recent five licensing periods ending 30 September 2021 to 2025.
Table 2 sets out the numbers of licences issued nationally for the licensing periods ending 30 September 2016 to 2020.
