Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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132. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce a broadcasting charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22939/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Programme for Government commits to examining the role and collection of the TV licence fee in light of existing and projected convergence of technologies and to transforming the TV licence into a household based Public Service Broadcasting Charge to be applied to all eligible households and applicable businesses, regardless of the device used to access content or services. In the context of publishing the results of an RTÉ efficiency review, which was conducted by NewERA, and a broadcasting advertising market review, carried out for my department by Indecon, I recently briefed the Cabinet on the importance of providing adequate funding for public service broadcasting in a time of stretched family budgets and limited exchequer funds. I set out my belief that a public service broadcasting charge could contribute to this, while reflecting the changing ways that viewers now access public service broadcasting. However, I made clear my legislative priorities in light of this analysis and that it would not be possible to replace the TV licence fee with a public service broadcasting charge within the lifetime of this Government. I also pointed to the need to build public understanding and support for the introduction of such a charge.