Brian Walsh
Question:139. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of television licences issued in the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013. [19490/13]
View answerThursday, 25 April 2013
Questions (139)
Written answers
An Post is charged with the role of “issuing agent” in respect of the collection and administration of television licence fees in accordance with the provisions of section 145 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The number of licences issued in any particular year is a combination of direct sales by An Post and ‘free licences’ issued by the Department of Social Protection. The number of TV licences issued on behalf of Social Welfare recipients varies according to the number of people eligible for the Household Benefits Package, and this can change from month to month.
The table below provides (i) the total number of licences sold by An Post in the year in question and (ii) the number of "free licences" recorded on the Department of Social Protection's database at the end of the year in question, which is a reflection of the number of free licences in existence at that point in time.
|
2013 |
2012 |
2011 |
2010 |
|
|
Number of TV Licences sold directly by An Post |
227,813 (to end Mar) |
1,003,860 |
1,021,443 |
1,038,665 |
|
Number of TV Licences issued by the Department of Social Protection |
410,414 (Mar figure) |
407,927 |
403,815 |
393,051 |
|
Total Licences |
638,227 |
1,411,787 |
1,425,258 |
1,431,716 |