New on-licence application

A new on-licence application allows the court to grant an initial seven day ordinary on-licence. This will allow the licence holder to operate a pub or bar and sell all types of alcoholic drinks to be consumed on and off the premises during the allowed serving hours.

How much does this application cost

There is a fee of €330 per application.

Please note, this fee is for the court application only. Revenue have a separate fee for taking out the licence.

How to prepare

You must extinguish (legally terminate) an existing licence from another premises in order to be granted a new licence.

You must do a licensing search to show the court that the premises did not previously have a full on-licence. Please see more on our licensing register page.

You must arrange in advance with the court office to have the District Court clerk in the area available to give evidence. However, in some circuits the judge accepts a record of the CSOL search or a certificate from the office.

How to apply

1. Complete your application

If you are a legal practitioner and have an account in CSOL, you can complete the application in CSOL. Alternatively, an application can be completed manually, which is usually drafted by legal counsel.

2. Serve the notice parties

You must notify or serve the relevant notice parties for your application. If the application is submitted in CSOL, the notice parties are automatically notified. Alternatively, you can serve the notice manually. Please see our serving and proof of service page for more information.

For this application, the notice parties are:

• An Garda Síochána must be notified at least twenty one days prior to the court date.
• The District Court clerk must be notified at least twenty one days prior to the court date.
• The District Court judge where the premises is situated must be notified at least twenty one days prior to the court date.
• The Combined Court Office Manager must be notified at least twenty one days prior to the court date.
• The public must be notified through local newspaper advertisement at least twenty one days prior to the court date.
• The Fire Officer must be notified at least twenty eight days prior to the court date.
• The HSE must be notified at least one month prior to the court date.

3. Submit your application

You can submit your application through CSOL or manually at the court office. The application must be lodged at least twenty one days prior to the court date.

4. Provide proofs to the court office

You must provide the required supporting documentation or "proofs" to the court office. This must be done manually as there is currently no option to upload the "proofs" listed below through CSOL.

What proofs are required

1. Original notice of application.
2. Affidavit of service (only where application is manually served).
3. The full original newspaper showing advertisement outlined in red border.
4. Copy of detailed plans with the area to be licensed outlined in red which will be handed into court, executed and dated on the day of court.
5. You will be expected to call your engineer or architect into evidence on the day to certify compliance with planning and building regulations and fire safety certificate conditions.
6. Confirmation there is no objection from the Fire Officer.
7. Evidence that the premises did not previously have a full on-licence.