Vol. 401 No. 2
7 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Communications the amount collected in broadcasting licence fees in the years 1988 and 1989, and the amount deducted in each year prior to the money being passed to RTE; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Details of the amounts collected in broadcasting licence fees and the amount deducted prior to payment to RTE in 1988 and 1989 are as follows:
|
1988 |
1989 |
|
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
Broadcasting licence fees collected |
49,094,737 |
50,594,100 |
|
Deductions |
5,504,249 |
5,451,027 |
My question and that of Deputy Byrne is to establish from the Minister the basis on which these deductions are made and the reasons for them? We are motivated by our concern for the way moneys are being deducted from the remit of RTE's licence fee. Would the Minister indicate the general heads under which this money is spent?
The general head is related to An Post, who are doing an excellent job in the collection of the licence fee. They have, for example, exceeded their television licence sales target for the past four years and have introduced computerisation of the collection system on an extensive basis. They have compiled and keep up-to-date a complete country-wide householders' file on computer and they have increased the number of officials on detection work. They have done such an excellent job that in my view they should be left with the collection system for which they receive commission.
While An Post are doing an excellent job in installing equipment and employing the officials, will the Minister confirm that, in fact, the expansion in equipment and employment comes from the percentage take of the licence fee as collected?
An Post get a percentage of the licence fee, but they have done an excellent job. In the past four years, and in the past three years, in particular, they have dramatically increased their collection system to the satisfaction of RTE. They have surpassed their targets in the past couple of years. The computers are their own.
Have the computers been paid for out of moneys collected for the licence fee?
That is an internal question for An Post.
There are two parts to my question. First, in view of the hardship involved for those living on social welfare to pay the licence fee, can the Minister make any arrangements to have a licence for less than a year, for example, a quarterly licence fee? Second, in view of the new importance of the licence fee revenue for RTE, if the capping arrangements go ahead, have any other steps been put forward to enhance the collection of the licence fee?
I will deal with the last part of the Deputy's question first. An Post are continually striving to increase the amount of licence fees collected, and I have no doubt they will continue that in the future. However, the first part of the Deputy's question seems to me to be a separate question.
We must now come to deal with questions addressed to the Minister for Justice.
