John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 527: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the cost of operating the free television licence scheme is paid from the Exchequer to An Post or to RTÉ; and the cost involved for each of the past five years. [27818/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Department of Social and Family Affairs operates a Household Benefits Package and those who qualify to receive this package are entitled to a free television licence. The Department of Social and Family Affairs pays the cost of these free licences to my Department. The following table sets out the amounts that the Department of Social and Family Affairs paid to my Department for each of the past five years.

An Post collects the fees for standard television licences, which it pays to my Department. In turn, my Department pays An Post a commission for the collection of the standard licences and for administration in respect of the free licences. Once this payment is deducted, 95% of net television licence fee receipts (both free and standard television licences) are paid to RTÉ and 5% of net television licence receipts are paid to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland in respect of the Broadcasting Fund. This latter rate will increase to 7% under the Broadcasting Bill 2008, which was recently passed by the Oireachtas.