Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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1074. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he plans to bring in any extra revenue generating measures to support public serving broadcasting. [18656/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government sets out our commitment to a strong, independent media sector that provides essential public service broadcasting, supports local journalism, and upholds press freedom. To achieve this it commits to ensuring stable, sufficient funding for RTÉ and TG4 to maintain quality programming and public trust, and contains a range of specific commitments to support the independent sector to provide quality public service content.

As reflected in the General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill published last October, these commitments are underpinned by the new framework for public service content provision. A review will be carried out by Coimisiún na Meán every three years and address gaps in public service content provision, under-served audiences and recommend measures, with particular regard to funding schemes.

Under this framework TG4 will continue to be financed through the Exchequer, while RTÉ will be financed through the licence fee and an additional Exchequer allocation as appropriate. The Broadcasting Fund will be converted to a platform neutral Media Fund to support public service content through the wider media sector.

Public support for public service broadcasting and public service content will be €324 million in 2025. In this context, the television licence fee remains an important source of revenue which it is estimated will contribute over €204 million in 2025, with over €120 million of that forecast to be raised through the sale of television licences by An Post, and the balance through funding for free licences. It is important to note that this funding is not only for RTÉ. Seven percent of net licence fee receipts will be paid into the Broadcasting Fund and ultimately the new Media Fund. This funding will support the wider media sector through competitive funds, administered by Coimisiún na Meán, such as Sound and Vision and the Local Democracy and Courts Reporting schemes.

As part of its decision last July, the Government decided that the TV licence system would be retained, while being underpinned by measures designed to improve collection and compliance in order to maximise revenue generation. To this end, Government reconvened the TV Licence Technical Working Group to examine potential enhancements to the television licence, and agreed to provide An Post with an Exchequer allocation of €6m over a three-year period for necessary improvements in the collection system and technology.

To support and inform the work of the Technical Working Group, my Department has been engaging in bilateral meetings with relevant stakeholders to examine the various technical and administrative issues arising and has also sought legal advice on a range of potential compliance-enhancing measures.

I will give consideration to any recommendations arising from the Group once I receive its report.