asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of television licences issued in 1969-70; and what steps are being taken to ensure that all owners of television sets pay licences.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Television Licences.
37.
The number issued was 429,719.
My Department maintains records of all licences issued. These records enable existing licensees to be reminded when renewal is due and inquiries to be instituted in cases where renewal is not effected within a reasonable time. Householders who are not recorded as holding licences and who are suspected of having television sets, are written to and if necessary visited. Intensive campaigns against evaders are held from time to time. A special television detector van—the most modern of its type available—was recently brought into use.
Persons found in possession of unlicensed sets are prosecuted as a matter of course. New legislation providing, inter alia, for increased fines is in course of preparation.