Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I accept the Deputy's assertion that it is important to ensure we collect all television licence fees which are due. All broadcasters are about to experience a difficult time. I will assist the House by mentioning some figures I have to hand which make it clear that the number of licences being sold has increased recently. In 2007, An Post's number of direct sales increased by 45,300. The number of direct licence sales by An Post this year, to the end of September, stands at 757,795. That figure is 17,200 higher than the figure at the same time in 2007. Deputy McManus mentioned the impact of house construction over recent years. If I remember correctly, it was planned that there would be almost 80,000 house completions in 2007.

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