asked the Minister for Communications the way in which the fee payable to An Post for collection of the RTE licence fee is calculated; and whether the franchise for collection is open to tender by other agencies.
Written Answers. - RTE Licence Fee Collection.
78.
Under section 76 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983, the Minister for Communications has empowered An Post to issue on his behalf licences for television sets. Section 79 of that Act provides that the Minister shall pay An Post an appropriate sum in respect of this work and that the amount to be paid is decided by An Post with the Minister's consent.
The amount paid to An Post each year is calculated in accordance with an agreement between An Post and RTE which is subject to my approval. The agreement for 1988 allows for payments as follows:—
|
Number of Licences Sold |
Amount per Licence |
|
£ |
|
|
1 — 750,000 |
5.77 |
|
750,001 — 795,000 |
5.88 |
|
795,001 — 817,000 |
6.07 |
|
817,001 — 825,000 |
6.49 |
|
825,001 — 827,500 |
8.98 |
|
827,501 — 829,500 |
20.00 |
|
above — 829,500 |
30.00 |
Apart from power to assign this work to RTE itself there is no statutory power to assign this work to other agencies.