Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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596. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the licence fee receipts collected in 2017 to date; the level of evasion that is currently estimated to occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54083/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The total TV licence fee receipts to 30 November is €198m. This figure includes funding provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) of €48.8m in respect of free TV licences issued under the Household Benefits Scheme and receipts from An Post for direct licence sales of €149.2m. The total receipts for 2017 will not be known until Q1 2018 when final sales figures for the year are available. I am very much aware of the challenges that face the existing TV Licence system including the current level of evasion which is estimated to be 14.6%. A number of diverse sources are used in calculating the evasion rate, including household data from the 2016 Census, business data from the Revenue Commissioner's Annual Report 2016 and the numbers qualifying for free licences from DEASP. While the rate has fallen from 15.3% at the end of 2013, it is still very high and equates to a loss of €40m per annum to public service broadcasting.

To address this issue, my Department has been working with An Post and RTÉ on an on-going basis to ensure that the TV licence collection system is working as effectively as possible. Measures such as marketing campaigns, more evening and weekend inspection and appointment of additional temporary inspectors are just some of the initiatives that have been utilised to enhance sales and improve compliance rates.

While these measures are important steps, I believe that the current system needs to be reformed. As the Deputy will be aware, I obtained Government approval earlier this year to draft a number of legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Act 2009, including amendments for the tendering of TV Licence fee collection. The proposed amendments are currently under Pre-Legislative Scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment and I look forward to receiving the Committee's Report on the matter.

In addition, I requested the Committee to examine the longer term issue of the future funding of public service media. The Committee recently published their report on this issue. My Department is currently examining the recommendations.