Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 July 2009
447 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the cost of operating the free TV licence scheme is paid by the Government to cost involved for each of the past five years. [28280/09]
View answerThe Department of Social and Family Affairs operates a Household Benefits Package and those who qualify to receive this package are entitled to a free television licence. The Department of Social and Family Affairs pays the cost of these free licences to my Department. The following table sets out the amounts that the Department of Social and Family Affairs paid to my Department for each of the past five years.
|
Year |
DSFA Gross Receipts in respect of Free Television Licences |
|
€million |
|
|
2004 |
44.3 |
|
2005 |
49.5 |
|
2006 |
48.7 |
|
2007 |
51.4 |
|
2008 |
53.7 |
An Post collects the fees for standard television licences, which it pays to my Department. In turn, my Department pays An Post a commission for the collection of the standard licences and for administration in respect of the free licences. Once this payment is deducted, 95% of net television licence fee receipts (both free and standard television licences) are paid to RTÉ and 5% of net television licence receipts are in turn paid to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland in respect of the Broadcasting Fund. This latter rate will increase to 7% under the Broadcasting Bill 2008, which was recently passed by the Oireachtas.
