Christy O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of money paid to RTÉ every year by the State; the method of payment for this funding; and the comparative figures for the past five years of the amount provided to RTÉ. [40542/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Under Section 123 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009, with the approval of the Minister of Finance, I may pay RTÉ in respect of each financial year an amount equal to the total of receipts in that year in respect of broadcasting (TV) licence fees less (i) any expenses incurred in relation to the collection of those fees, and (ii) an amount being equal to 7% of these net television licence fee receipts which is paid under Section 156 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland in respect of the Broadcasting Funding Scheme. This amount was increased from 5% to 7% under the 2009 Act. In effect, therefore, RTÉ is now being paid 93% of net television licence fee receipts on an annual basis.

This funding is electronically transferred to RTÉ in instalments at two intervals of every month. The following table sets out details of funding available from television licence fees and the breakdown of the allocation of this funding for RTÉ in the years 2004-2008.