Vol. 438 No. 1
134 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht his views on the statement by the Chairman of the RTE Authority that a substantial increase in licence fee is required to meet future capital investments; if the sale of Network 2 would meet these requirements; and if he will give alternative means of funding to meet the capital requirements of RTE.
I refer the Deputy to my reply of 4 November 1993, Volume No. 435, No. 5, column No. 1165, in which I stated that I had not received any application from RTE for a licence fee increase. This position has not changed. The 1994 Public Capital Programme contains a provision for expenditure by RTE which is funded from its own resources. Consideration by me of alternative funding options does not, therefore, arise at present. I regard Network 2 as an integral part of the RTE structure.
