Written answers

Wednesday, 14 July 2021

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Television Licence Fee

Photo of Paul McAuliffePaul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to reform the television licence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38380/21]

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government provided for the establishment of the Future of Media Commission to consider the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion. The independent commission, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, is tasked with examining the challenges facing the sector and to consider the extent to which the current models of delivery are the appropriate ones for the next 10 years. It is examining how the public service media can be funded in a way that is sustainable, gives greater security of funding, ensures independent editorial oversight and delivers value for money to the public. This includes consideration of the current television licence fee model.

It is expected that the Commission's Report will be completed at the end of July and I look forward to receiving their recommendations which will inform future policy for the media sector, including funding for public service broadcasting.

Photo of Paul McAuliffePaul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the breakdown of the funding distribution from the television licence fee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38381/21]

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Total Licence Fee Receipts comprises monies from TV licence sales and exchequer funding from the Department of Social Protection for the operation of the free TV licence Scheme.

Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 makes provision for the disbursement of 7% of the net television licence fee (i.e. total receipts less commission to An Post) to the Broadcasting Fund administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). The Broadcasting Fund supports both the Sound and Vision (S&V) and Archiving Schemes.

The balance of net licence fee receipts is paid to RTÉ.The breakdown of funding for 2020 is set out in the table below:

2020
Broadcasting Fund €14,876,525.02
RTÉ €197,645,260.94
An Post €10,029,834.00
Total €222,551,619.96

It is not possible to calculate total receipts and their breakdown for 2021 until year end.

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