Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 1

Adjournment Debate. - Television Licence Exemption.

Mr. M. Kitt

I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for allowing me to raise this matter and the Minister for coming to the House at this witching hour.

I would like to make the case for the waiving of the television licence when televisions are used for educational purposes in schools. I welcome the major initiatives the Minister has been taking in education, particularly in relation to primary school class sizes, remedial teachers, library books, funding, changes in local contributions and information technology.

One of the issues raised at regional meetings organised by the INTO and among managers and parents is the high cost of maintaining and running schools. Issues such as the high cost of insurance, refuse collection, payments, telephone charges and fax machines which, in many cases, are new charges are raised. New technology will also involve new charges. I, therefore, make the case for at least waiving the television licence.

I understand there are 3,381 primary schools, 440 secondary schools, 243 vocational schools and 80 schools in the community and comprehensive sectors. That is a total of 4,144 schools at first and second levels. These are the schools for which I wish to make a case. An Post informed me that schools and colleges are treated as ordinary addresses for the purposes of the wireless and telegraphy legislation. Accordingly, it does not distinguish between the different types of premises on its database. I make a case for the humble television, which is particularly useful for educational videos. In many cases, that is the only reason it is used in the school. There should be an exemption as the television is part of education technology. I strongly recommend that the television licence be waived in the case of schools.

Mr. Martin

This issue has been the subject of a long campaign on the part of Deputy Michael Kitt for many years.

The question of granting exemption to schools from the requirement to purchase television licences is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.

Under existing legislation, there is no distinction made between television sets used as monitors for videos and those used to receive television programmes. Any provision to exempt schools from the requirement to purchase television licences would require a change in legislation, which would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.

The cost of purchasing television licences forms part of the normal running costs of schools. My Department's scheme of capitation grants is intended to defray the general running costs of primary schools which would include the cost of television licences, among other costs.

However, my Department operates a scheme whereby schools which are in designated areas of disadvantage have the cost of their television licences refunded to them.

I remind the Deputy of the Government's commitment to giving primary education a clear priority in the allocation of resources as set out in our policy document "An Action Programme for the Millennium". To this end, I obtained an increase of £5 in the standard rate of capitation grant payable at primary level in 1998 and a further £10 increase has been provided for in the 1999 Estimates, which will bring the standard capitation grant to £60 per pupil.

This constitutes a 33 per cent increase in the grant in place since I assumed office. These increases in the capitation grant represent important steps in the process of increasing capitation funding at primary level and in helping schools meet their day-to-day running costs.

I assure the Deputy that the question of further increases in this grant will continue to receive priority over the coming years. I will undertake to have discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on the amendment to legislation which could give effect to the request the Deputy has made.

The Dáil adjourned at 12.05 a.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 11 March 1999.