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Television Licence Fee

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020

Thursday, 30 July 2020

Questions (141)

Neale Richmond

Question:

141. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of fines that have been issued in respect of the non-payment of television licences from 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19697/20]

View answer

Written answers

An Post acts as issuing agent for TV Licence fee collection in accordance with Section 145 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and all operational matters are dealt with by An Post.

An Post makes every effort to bring evaders into the licensed pool and a considerable amount of time and resources are spent on dealing with this issue. An Post concentrates its initial efforts in 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 from 2015 to June 2020 are set out in the table under:

Year

Number of summons issued

No of cases brought to court

2015

17,763

12,302

2016

17,608

11,994

2017

17,288

11,693

2018

16,120

10,234

2019

14,015

6,068

2020 (Jan-June)

6,883

1,637

The imposition and collection of fines for non-payment of TV Licences are a matter for the Courts Service in conjunction with An Garda Síochána and An Post does not receive statistics on imposition and collection of fines from the Courts service.

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