Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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289. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the criteria under which a person requires a television licence; and the way they can claim an exemption. [6681/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The requirement to possess a TV Licence is set out in the Broadcasting Act, 2009. The Act defines a television set as “any electronic apparatus capable of receiving and exhibiting television broadcasting services". Under the legislation, if a person owns a television set in Ireland, they must have a current television licence for that set.

In accordance with Section 142(3) of the Act, provision can be made, by order, for exemptions to the requirement to hold a TV licence for particular equipment. The Television Licence (Exemption of Classes of Television Set) Order, S.I. No. 319/2009 provides for an exemption for portable devices with a display size of not more than 160cm2 capable of exhibiting television services, for example mobile phones or personal digital assistants, and other devices, such as personal computers or laptops, capable of accessing the Internet and television-like services streamed via websites.

An Post as the issuing agent for TV licences may, when carrying out inspections, require any person to complete a statutory declaration detailing whether the person does or does not keep or has or has not in his or her possession a television set.

The only category exempt from payment of the licence fee are those who qualify for ‘free licences’ under the Department of Social Protection's Household Benefits Scheme.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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290. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a person can receive a refund for a television licence if the licence was purchased erroneously. [6682/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Broadcasting Act 2009 does not make any statutory provision for refunds. However, An Post, who act as my issuing agent for licence fee collection, will refund customers in circumstances where there are two licences purchased in error for a single premises.

In addition, An Post also refund recipients of a Department of Social Protection Free TV Licence who receive their free licence in the month their paid TV Licence expires and who have purchased a TV Licence because the TV Licence database has not been updated at the time of purchase.