Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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587. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if licences when due for renewal will be issued free of charge for community facilities that run bingo and social dancing in view of the fact that they have not been used for a number of months and will not be used for an extended period of time due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16799/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The statutory provisions concerning the licensing of premises for the purposes of public dancing are set out in the Public Dance Halls Act 1935 as well as sections 2 to 10 and 21 of the Licensing (Combating Drug Abuse) Act 1997 in so far as they relate to public dancing licenses. The primary purpose of these statutory provisions is to ensure the welfare and safety of persons while present at events on the premises.

Applications for renewal of existing licences are made to the annual licensing district court. Fees relating to renewal of licences in the courts are prescribed by law. Fees for applications to the District Court are prescribed by S.I. 22 of 2014. There is no provision in S.I. 22 of 2014 for waiver of these fees by the Courts Service and the Minister has no current plans to review the matter.