Vol. 493 No. 4
150 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the steps, if any, she will take to amend the relevant legislation to exempt national schools from the requirement to purchase television licences where televisions are installed in schools as part of the education process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16537/98]
There is no provision under current legislation for exemptions from the requirement to hold a television licence. I do not propose that this position should be changed.
The Deputy will understand that primary schools are just one of the many institutions and categories of persons which would consider themselves in need of exemption. The exemption of primary schools from the requirement to hold a licence would have to be compensated for by an increase in the licence fee or from another source, for example the Vote for first-level education.
The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Education and Science operates a scheme whereby the cost of television licences is reimbursed to primary schools which are designated as being disadvantaged by that Department.
