Written answers
Thursday, 8 February 2024
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Television Licence Fee
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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213. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the up-to-date weekly figures regarding TV licence renewal and purchase of TV licences for January 2024 versus January 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5996/24]
Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The first table below shows the number of first time licence sales and licence renewals in January 2024, as reported by An Post.
| Week | Sales | Renewal | First Time Licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 12,198 | 10,779 | 1,419 |
| Week 2 | 13,095 | 11,609 | 1,486 |
| Week 3 | 13,956 | 12,069 | 1,887 |
| Week 4 | 12,697 | 11,230 | 1,467 |
| Week 5 | 10,386 | 8,968 | 1,418 |
| Week | Sales | Renewal | First Time Licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 13,979 | 11,880 | 2,099 |
| Week 2 | 17,212 | 14,473 | 2,739 |
| Week 3 | 15,299 | 12,895 | 2,404 |
| Week 4 | 13,426 | 11,615 | 1,811 |
| Week 5 | 7,848 | 6,846 | 1,002 |
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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214. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department contributes in any way to the monetary cost of the advertisement of the TV licence fee on platforms; if she will outline details of such expenditure; if she and her Department contribute to the formulation of messaging in any such advertising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5997/24]
Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Given RTÉ's statutory independence under section 98 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, neither I, nor the officials in my Department, have any role in day to day operational matters including issues relating to advertising.
RTÉ is not the TV licence-issuing agent, nor the sole beneficiary of TV licence receipts, however it does undertake advertising campaigns to remind the public of the statutory obligation to be in possession of a valid TV licence, as well as the wide range of public service content which it supports.
The content, timing and frequency of TV licence advertisements is entirely an operational matter for RTÉ. The costs are fully borne by RTÉ and no additional financial provisions are made by my Department for such advertising.
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