A dispenser for flexible rolled sheet material, comprising: a housing containing a support mechanism for holding at least one roll of sheet material, said housing comprising a base for mounting to a surface, a cover pivotally mounted to the base, and a discharge chute formed within the housing for discharging the sheet material from the dispenser; and a tear bar (20, 79) mounted within the housing for severance of sheet material by a user; a control circuit to control dispensing of the sheet material from the housing; a dispensing mechanism to drive sheet material from the housing upon receiving a signal from the control circuit; a proximity sensor (22, 136) having an adjustable detection range, wherein the dispensing mechanism is operative in a first mode to be responsive to a signal from the proximity sensor (22, 136) to dispense a sheet of material; and a pivotally mounted pawl member (14, 132) located proximate said tear bar (20, 79) such that movement of sheet material into the tear bar (20, 79) for severance pivots the pawl member (14, 132) from a first position to a second position; a signal means cooperative with the pawl member (14, 132) and located such that movement of the pawl member (14, 132) to the second position causes the signal means to send a signal to notify the control circuit that the sheet material has been removed, characterized in that the control circuit is configured to control the dispensing mechanism such thatthe dispensing mechanism is operative in a second mode to dispense a next sheet in response to the signal means being activated by movement of the pawl member (14, 132) to the second position. a housing containing a support mechanism for holding at least one roll of sheet material, said housing comprising a base for mounting to a surface, a cover pivotally mounted to the base, and a discharge chute formed within the housing for discharging the sheet material from the dispenser; and a tear bar (20, 79) mounted within the housing for severance of sheet material by a user; a control circuit to control dispensing of the sheet material from the housing; a dispensing mechanism to drive sheet material from the housing upon receiving a signal from the control circuit; a proximity sensor (22, 136) having an adjustable detection range, wherein the dispensing mechanism is operative in a first mode to be responsive to a signal from the proximity sensor (22, 136) to dispense a sheet of material; and a pivotally mounted pawl member (14, 132) located proximate said tear bar (20, 79) such that movement of sheet material into the tear bar (20, 79) for severance pivots the pawl member (14, 132) from a first position to a second position; a signal means cooperative with the pawl member (14, 132) and located such that movement of the pawl member (14, 132) to the second position causes the signal means to send a signal to notify the control circuit that the sheet material has been removed, characterized in that the control circuit is configured to control the dispensing mechanism such thatthe dispensing mechanism is operative in a second mode to dispense a next sheet in response to the signal means being activated by movement of the pawl member (14, 132) to the second position.