20 February 2007

Communications

 Revenue for Television Licences

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the revenue raised from television licences; the number of licences issued; the costs relating to the collection and enforcement of television licence fees in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Communications, Marine, and Natural Resources (Mr. Dempsey)
A total of €205.6 million was collected in television licence fees in 2006. An Post were paid an agency fee of €12.7 million for licence fee collection in that year.

In 2006 a total of 1,340,036 Television Licences we re issued. 1,004,805 of those licences were issued directly by An Post. The remaining 335,231 licences were issued by the Department of Social and Family Affairs who are now responsible for the issuing of Lifetime Licences for those persons who qualify for a "free" licence under the Household Benefits scheme. 2006 saw a 53,226 increase in Licences sold directly by An Post over those sold in 2005.