Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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615. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16164/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Public service broadcasters play an important role in our democratic society and the provision of stable and adequate funding is essential to ensuring they can continue to deliver on that role.

While the existing 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, are having a growing impact on the funding now being provided by the model and raise a serious question mark over the future ability of the current model to continue to provide stable funding for public service media in the longer term.

I am currently considering proposals for the amendment of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and I intend to bring these proposals to Cabinet shortly. As part of these proposals, I am examining the option of increasing the range of devices liable for a television licence. The growth of Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) as a delivery mechanism for television services, as well as the availability of a much wider range of devices for media consumption means that traditional viewing habits are changing. Recent TAM reports show that the percentage of households which are no longer deemed to have a television as defined by the current regulations has risen from 6% in 2013 to 8% in 2016.

In advance of any amendment to the current regulations, I intend to write to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communication, Climate Action and Environment, to seek their views on which types of devices should remain exempt.

I have also requested that the Committee examine the longer term issue of the future funding of public service media. As the Deputy may be aware, the Committee is currently considering this issue following a period of public consultation and stakeholder engagement. I look forward to receiving their report in due course which will help inform future funding policy for public service broadcasting.