Written answers
Thursday, 30 July 2020
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Television Licence Fee
Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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141. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of fines that have been issued in respect of the non-payment of television licences from 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19697/20]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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An Post acts as issuing agent for TV Licence fee collection in accordance with Section 145 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and all operational matters are dealt with by An Post.
An Post makes every effort to bring evaders into the licensed pool and a considerable amount of time and resources are spent on dealing with this issue. An Post concentrates its initial efforts in getting people to buy the licence when due and by following up with a series of reminder notices and inspector visits.
Bringing people to court is a last resort and only carried out where all other means have failed.
The number of summons issued and cases brought to court from 2015 to June 2020 are set out in the table under:
| Year | Number of summons issued | No of cases brought to court |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 17,763 | 12,302 |
| 2016 | 17,608 | 11,994 |
| 2017 | 17,288 | 11,693 |
| 2018 | 16,120 | 10,234 |
| 2019 | 14,015 | 6,068 |
| 2020 (Jan-June) | 6,883 | 1,637 |
The imposition and collection of fines for non-payment of TV Licences are a matter for the Courts Service in conjunction with An Garda Síochána and An Post does not receive statistics on imposition and collection of fines from the Courts service.
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