Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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1261. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the aim of the new proposal to implement a television licence fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19452/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I recognise the important role that public service broadcasters play 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.

With this in mind, in October last year I asked the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment to 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 media in Ireland.

As I have previously indicated, I am also bringing proposals to Cabinet for amending the Broadcasting Act 2009.  In addition I asked the Office of Government Procurement to issue a Request for Information to see what services the market may be able to offer in respect of TV Licence collection. This will help inform any tender process once the legislative amendments are in place to provide for a procurement process.

In the meantime, there will be no change to the existing TV licence fee arrangements.