Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 29 June 2016

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources

Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources (Revised)

9:00 am

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

First, to deal with the public service broadcasting charge, the previous Government committed to examining the role and collection of the TV licence fee in the light of the existing and projected convergence of technologies, as Deputy Dooley mentioned. This proposed public service broadcasting charge was designed to secure a more stable funding stream for broadcasting.

The Department completed a value for money assessment and engaged in public consultation. It received about 385 submissions in late 2013 with a view to assessing the scope of a new scheme. It needs to be remembered that my predecessor, Alex White, indicated in April of last year that it would not be introduced during the term of that Government. When I was appointed Minister, the position was that the previous Minister had placed the broadcasting charge in limbo. We could continue to tinker about, use it as an excuse to do nothing or try to drive it through a legislative process which has limited Government time as a result of the new structures. There are other legislative priorities in the Department. I had to weigh up how I would achieve the best outcome. The Energy Bill had a high priority in the previous Dáil but on foot of the vote last Thursday, it is even more important. There are also other issues. I could have said we would continue to deal with the broadcasting charge and would work on it for the next 18 months when, in reality, it will not see the light of day in the short term. I think the Deputy is correct. We have to acknowledge that technology is changing. I am not saying the broadcasting charge should be shelved completely but there are opportunities in the short term to bring in additional income into the sector. There is large scale evasion with many people not paying their television licence fee. I do not think anywhere in Europe has similar levels of evasion. It is three times higher than the level in the United Kingdom and in Germany. It is estimated that the loss could be up to €40 million per annum. There are other anomalies within the system that limit the collection of the licence fee. I think we can make far more practical progress in increasing real income by focusing on that in the short term.

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