Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
514. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the allocation that was made to RTÉ in Budget 2021; the amount of same spent to date; the amount expected to be spent by the end of 2021; and the amount carried over to 2022. [31078/21]
View answerRTÉ is dual funded from commercial revenue and licence fee receipts. Licence fee receipts are comprised of direct sales by An Post, who act as my issuing agent under Section 145 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and a contribution from the Department of Social Protection in respect of free licences issued under the Household Benefits Scheme. A total of €69.787m is provided for in 2021 in respect of free licences. It is not possible to determine until end year the total amount received through direct sales of TV licences or therefore the overall allocation to RTÉ.
My Department distributes all monies received in the year of receipt with no carryover in accordance with the Broadcasting Act 2009. This provides for payment to An Post for collection, 7% of the net receipts to the BAI Broadcasting Fund and the balance to RTÉ.
To date (8 June 2021) RTÉ have received €77.978m from my Department. Details of how RTÉ spent monies in 2021 will be set out in their Annual Report and Accounts for the year when published in 2022.
