Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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244. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of prosecutions initiated, convictions secured and cases struck out for non-payment of the television licence for each year from 2015 to 2025; and if there has been any changes in policy that has affected enforcement activity.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56391/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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245. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the contractual arrangements in place between his Department and An Post for the collection and enforcement of the television licence fee; the performance indicators and reporting obligations included in that contract; the details of any performance reviews or audits conducted since 2020; and if An Post has met or failed to meet its agreed enforcement targets in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56392/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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246. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated annual level of television licence revenue foregone as a result of non-payment and reduced enforcement activity in each of the years 2019 to 2025; if his Department has undertaken or commissioned any review into the adequacy of the current enforcement model; his plans for reform, including administrative penalties or alternative collection methods, being considered by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56393/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 244, 245 and 246 together.

TV licence revenue comprises receipts from direct sales by An Post and an Exchequer contribution from the Department of Social Protection in respect of free licences awarded to recipients of the Household Benefits Package. TV licence revenues are distributed in accordance with the Broadcasting Act 2009, with 7% of net receipts allocated to the Broadcasting Fund, 93% of net receipts allocated to RTÉ, and a payment to An Post in respect of collection and compliance costs.

As part of the decision last July on the funding of RTÉ and public service media and content, 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 interdepartmental Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Reform and Enhancement of the Television Licence to examine potential measures. The Group is due to report to me by the end of November, at which point I will consider their findings and decide the next steps.

In terms of estimating television licence revenue foregone, my Department is currently undertaking a review of the methodology used to determine the estimated evasion rate in respect of the television licence fee in the context of the work of the TWG. For that reason, the estimated evasion rate of 2024 is not available. The evasion rate, estimated using the current methodology, in respect of the period 2019 – 2023 and the associated estimated television licence revenue foregone is set out in the table below.

The relationship between my Department and An Post as issuing agent of the television licence fee is governed by Part 9 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. As statutory issuing agent, operational issues regarding collection and enforcement are primarily a matter for An Post, who make every effort to promote the purchasing of a TV licence and thereby ensure compliance. This includes issuing reminder notifications in accordance with section 149 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and undertaking household visits in accordance with section 146 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to confirm possession of a liable device and valid TV licence, or otherwise.

Section 145(5) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 empowers An Post to bring and prosecute summary proceedings in respect of the offence of possessing a television set without owning a television licence. Details regarding the number of prosecutions, convictions and decisions of the District Court are a matter for the Courts Service and the Department does not hold this data.

A service level agreement is in place between the Department and An Post in respect of their role as statutory issuing agent and contains commitments from both parties for their respective statutory roles regarding the TV licence system. Previously, the system was on a commission-based structure with payments to An Post dependent on the number of licences issued, subject to a sliding scale to incentivise TV licence sales. For 2025, this has moved to a structure whereby a fixed amount is paid to An Post with an incentive for licences issued above an agreed target.