asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the total number of radio and television licences in the country; the number of unlicensed television sets detected during the past year and the annual loss of revenue to the State represented by this; and if he intends to take any further steps to detect unlicensed television sets.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Unlicensed Television Sets .
16.
(Dublin South-Central): Licences for radio sets were discontinued from 1 September 1972. At the end of April 1978 581,567 television licences were current. Approximately 47,000 unlicensed or incorrectly licensed television sets were detected in the year ended 31 December 1977. This would represent an annual loss of about £900,000 in revenue.
Television licence inspection work is carried on throughout the year and countrywide campaigns to detect unlicensed television sets are carried out from time to time.
: Could the Minister express that figure as a percentage or approximate percentage? In view of the impending increase in television licences, many people feel cheated by the fact that there are so many spongers. I realise that the service represents excellent value for money in the European context of pricing but could the Minister give the exact percentage?
(Dublin South-Central): Out of 581,000 against 47,000 it is roughly 10 per cent or a little less for defaulters. Every effort is being made to ensure that these are detected.