Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 1

Written Answers. - Schools' TV Licences.

Frank Crowley

Question:

419 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he is prepared to allow new legislation which would alleviate the necessity for primary and secondary schools to have a television licence when, in fact, these facilities are used to the betterment of children and teachers.

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

I have no plans to introduce legislation in the matter.

The Deputy will appreciate that schools are just one of the many institutions and categories of persons that would regard themselves as worthy of such an exemption. The removal of the necessity for the payment of television licence fees by schools would have to be compensated for from other sources, for example, from the general body of licence fee payers through increased licence fees or by means of subvention from the Vote of the Department of Education.

I should add that as one colour television licence at a cost of £62 would cover all television sets in a particular premises, payment of this fee could hardly be regarded as an excessive burden on the annual budget of any school. The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Education is providing for an increase in the capitation grant to schools for 1993 to further assist them with their day to day running costs.

For the information of the Deputy, television licences issued to certain social welfare recipients under the Department of Social Welfare "free" television licence scheme are in fact paid for by that Department.