Written answer
Alcohol Sales
415. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of Special Exemption Orders (SEOs) secured by licensed premises per year for 2025, on a county by county basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35825/26]
Comment on this
416. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of individual licensed premises who have secured Special Exemption Orders (SEOs) per year and by county for 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35826/26]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together.
The management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas at: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
Pursuant to section five of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1927, a licensee is obliged to make an application to the District Court for an Special Exemption Order. The granting or refusal of an SEO is entirely a matter for the Court.
My Department does not record the number of SEOs granted, as this is a matter reserved entirely for the Courts Service. Therefore, I have referred your questions to the Courts Service for their direct reply.