Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 2003

Vol. 562 No. 4

Written Answers - Television Licence Fee.

Simon Coveney

Question:

135 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he expects that RTE's Declaration of Programming for 2003, following commitments given as a result of an increased licence fee, will be published. [6342/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

I expect that RTE will publish its statement of commitments for 2003 shortly. The Government decided last December that future funding of RTE is to be linked to a range of measures to provide greater transparency and accountability in the use of the proceeds of the television licence fee.

An annual statement of commitments, specifying measurable outputs to be delivered by RTE, which can be independently verified at year-end, is one of those measures. The statement of commitments for 2003 will serve two purposes. It will inform the licence fee paying public as to what they can expect in return for their increased licence fee. In addition, the 2003 statement of commitments will be a critical input in the evaluation of RTE's performance in 2003 including the process of determining any future increase in the licence fee.

RTE's statement of commitments for 2003 will be based on the draft Public Service Broadcasting Charter included with RTE's application for an increase in the licence fee. In future years the statement of commitments will be based on the actual charter and will be published early in the year.