Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline the remit of the value for money policy review group dealing with the television licence fee replacement tax, due to report before the end of March 2013; the date on which the group was set up; and the names of the members. [12577/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Value for Money (VFM) Policy Review Group on the introduction of a Public Service Broadcasting Charge held its first meeting on 4 September 2012. The objective of the Review is to analyse whether an alternative funding model to the traditional TV licence fee model would provide a more stable source of funding for public service broadcasting into the future by being more efficient and effective in terms of revenue intake and lowering the evasion rate.

As required by the Department of Finance guidelines for a VFM Policy Review process, a Steering Group was established comprising officials of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with an independent external chair.

The primary purpose of the Report is to assist my Department in its deliberations in the context of any recommendations that may, ultimately, be made to Government on this matter. The question of the status of the Report, including the need to make public the names of those on the group, will be addressed in that context once this process has been finalised.