Public Dance Halls Act, 1935

Application for and grant of public dancing licences.

2.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person may apply to the Justice of the District Court exercising jurisdiction in any licensing area for a licence (in this Act referred to as a public dancing licence) to use a particular place, whether licensed or not licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor, situate in such licensing area for public dancing, and such Justice may, if he so thinks proper, grant such licence to such person.

(2) In considering an application under this section for a public dancing licence, a Justice of the District Court shall, in addition to any other matter which may appear to him to be relevant, have regard to the following matters, that is to say:—

(a) the character and the financial and other circumstances of the applicant for such licence;

(b) the suitability of the place to which such application relates;

(c) the facilities for public dancing existing in the neighbourhood of such place at the time of such application;

(d) the accommodation for the parking of vehicles in the neighbourhood of such place;

(e) the probable age of the persons who would be likely to make use of such place for public dancing;

(f) whether the situation of such place is or is not such as to render difficult the supervision by the Gárda Síochána of the management of and proceedings in such place;

(g) the hours during which the applicant proposes that public dancing should be permitted in such place.

(3) On the hearing of an application under this section for a public dancing licence, any member of the Gárda Síochána and any person who appears to the Justice hearing such application to be interested therein may appear and be heard in opposition to such application and may adduce evidence in support of such opposition.

(4) Every application under this Act for a public dancing licence (except an application for a public dancing licence in respect of a place for which no such licence is in existence at the time of such application and an application for a public dancing licence for a defined period not exceeding one month and an application which is authorised by this Act to be made at any time) shall be made at an annual licensing district court and at no other time.