Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for putting down this Topical Issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. I recognise the important part that public service broadcasters play in our democratic society. The provision of stable and adequate funding is essential to ensuring the continued delivery of their role in this regard. I am very much aware, however, of the challenges that face the existing TV licence system, including the current unacceptable levels of evasion. While the rate has fallen from 15.3% at the end of 2013 to the current rate of 14.6%, it is still very high.

In addition, the number of households required to have a licence under the current system is declining due to a departure from traditional viewing habits. Recent reports show that 9% of households no longer have a television set. While the current TV licence fee model has provided a measure of stability to date, the rapid changes in technology altering the traditional way in which television is watched together with economic pressures generally means that a serious question mark exists over the ability of the current funding model to provide continued stable funding for public service media in the long term.

In October 2016, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment requested that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment examine the longer term issue of the future funding of public service media. As the Deputy will be aware, the committee considered this issue following a period of public consultation and stakeholder engagement. This has coincided with the committee's pre-legislative scrutiny of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill, which is due to be published in the coming weeks. The joint Oireachtas committee launched its report on the future funding of public service broadcasting earlier today. The Minister welcomes the publication of the report and is grateful to the committee for responding to his request to examine this important issue. As the Deputy will appreciate, this is a comprehensive report of over 300 pages which the Minister has not yet had time to consider. However, the Minister looks forward to examining the committee’s recommendations, which will help inform future policy options for public service broadcasting. Once the contents of the report have been considered, it is the Minister’s intention to bring proposals to Cabinet on funding options in the near future. In the meantime, there will be no change to the existing TV licence fee arrangements and An Post will continue to work as the issuing agent for television licences in accordance with section 145 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.

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