Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018
486. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of prosecutions and convictions for the non-payment of a television licence in each of the years 2012 to 2017. [8698/18]
View answerUnder the Broadcasting Act, 2009, An Post is the designated agent, acting on behalf of the Minister, for the collection of the Television Licence fee. In line with the Act, An Post is charged with the issuing of these licences and also with the enforcement of the current licence fee regime. An Post makes every effort to bring evaders into the licensed pool and a considerable amount of time and resources are spent in dealing specifically with this issue. An Post concentrates its initial efforts on getting people to buy the licence when due and by following up with a series of reminder notices and inspector visits. Bringing people to court is a last resort and only carried out where all other means have failed.
The number of summons issued and cases brought to court between 2012 and 2017 are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Number of Summons applied for |
Number of cases brought to court |
|
2012 |
18,047 |
11,730 |
|
2013 |
21,761 |
14,307 |
|
2014 |
20,877 |
13,976 |
|
2015 |
17,763 |
12,302 |
|
2016 |
17,608 |
11,994 |
|
2017 |
17,288 |
11,693 |
Prosecutions for non-payment of TV licences are a matter for the Courts Service. Where a fine is imposed, this is collected by Gardaí. Statistics of those sent to prison for non-payment of fines are not provided to or maintained by An Post.
