Written answers
Thursday, 21 September 2023
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Television Licence Fee
Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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209. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of households who currently qualify for the free television licence; the corresponding numbers for each of the past ten years, in tabular form; the resulting cost to the Exchequer for each of those years; if these monies were transferred directly to RTÉ on an annual basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40888/23]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Household Benefits Package comprises of an Electricity or Gas Allowance, and a Free Television Licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66, who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. Only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household.
The total cost of the TV Licence element of the Household Benefits Package to the State from 2013 to June 2023 is as per the table below.
These monies are not paid directly to RTE by my Department. They are paid to the appropriate Government Department at the time, which is currently the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
| Year | No. of Recipients / Households at Year End | Annual Expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 413,214 | €57,184,556.00 |
| 2014 | 412,901 | €52,184,556.00 |
| 2015 | 419,209 | €52,184,556.00 |
| 2016 | 424,492 | €52,184,556.00 |
| 2017 | 435,337 | €53,184,556.00 |
| 2018 | 443,580 | €54,825,000.00 |
| 2019 | 455,439 | €59,876,580.00 |
| 2020 | 471,977 | €69,788,620.00 |
| 2021 | 484,338 | €69,788,620.00 |
| 2022 | 506,635 | €69,788,620.00 |
| 2023 to June | 512,638 | €34,894,310.00 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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