Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1001. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has considered the possible impacts that outsourcing the collection of television license fees could have on An Post's financial revenues and profitability. [33582/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, I have obtained Government approval to draft a number of legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Act, 2009, including amendments to allow for the tendering of TV Licence fee collection, and the proposed amendments are currently being considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment under Pre-Legislative Scrutiny.

In tandem with this, I recently 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 fee collection. The result of this will help inform any tender process once the legislative amendments are in place to provide for a procurement process.  

Whatever form any future tender process might take, it is my intention that the post office network should remain central to the sale of television licences.  I understand that when the cost of collection is factored in, the TV licence collection process has no material impact on An Post financials. 

In the meantime, there will be no change to the existing TV licence fee arrangements and An Post continues to work as my issuing agent in accordance with Section 145 of the Act.