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Television Licence Fee

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2023

Thursday, 16 November 2023

Questions (157)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

157. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the up-to-date figures relating to TV licence fee renewals and new licences; if she will provide a month-by-month comparison, in tabular format, between 2022 and 2023 showing the number of licences renewed and each new license in each respective month by all transactional methods, and the associated revenue generated by these renewal; if the available figures for November so far would be provided; if the cumulative loss in revenue so far in 2023 (versus the same period in 2022) would be provided; if county by county data exists and, if so, if it will be provided in respect of each category above; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50458/23]

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Written answers

The first table below shows the number of first time licence sales and licence renewals in 2022. This information is also broken down into licence sales made at a post office, online, by phone, and by direct debit.

2022 First time Licence Sales and Licence Renewals

MONTH

SALES 2022

Web, Phone, and Post Office Renewal

Web, Phone, and Post Office First Time Licence

Direct Debit Renewal

Direct DebitFirst Time Licence

Total Renewal

Total First Time Licence

January

78,050

55,068

9,502

12,746

734

67,814

10,236

February

70,648

48,322

8,130

13,082

1,114

61,404

9,244

March

74,098

51,643

8,526

13,102

827

64,745

9,353

April

73,942

51,410

8,715

12,826

991

64,236

9,706

May

73,624

51,770

8,249

12,515

1,090

64,285

9,339

June

75,067

52,429

8,004

13,617

1,017

66,047

9,020

July

76,769

54,120

8,537

13,077

1,035

67,197

9,572

August

77,736

54,505

8,392

13,760

1,079

68,265

9,471

September

93,365

66,333

9,211

16,785

1,036

83,118

10,247

October

94,905

67,653

8,721

17,295

1,236

84,948

9,957

November

87,750

64,484

9,794

12,168

1,304

76,652

11,098

December

71,970

51,011

7,614

12,251

1,094

63,262

8,708

By way of comparison, the following table shows the number of first time licence sales and licence renewals to the end of October 2023. Detailed sales channel information is not yet available for November.

2023 First time Licence Sales and Licence Renewals to date

MONTH

SALES 2023

Web, Phone, and Post Office Renewal

Web, Phone and Post Office First Time Licence

Direct Debit Renewal

Direct DebitFirst Time Licence

Total Renewal

Total First Time Licence

January

78,389

55,574

9,659

12,419

737

67,993

10,396

February

71,891

49,047

8,433

12,772

1,639

61,819

10,072

March

79,210

55,796

9,376

12,720

1,318

68,516

10,694

April

68,795

47,585

7,538

12,487

1,185

60,072

8,723

May

73,598

52,181

7,937

12,236

1,244

64,417

9,181

June

73,421

51,116

7,602

13,296

1,407

64,412

9,009

July

53,882

35,143

4,960

12,692

1,087

47,835

6,047

August

54,664

36,688

4,124

13,094

758

49,782

4,882

September

66,000

44,816

4,211

16,228

745

61,044

4,956

October

67,722

46,530

4,133

16,467

592

62,997

4,725

The most recent recent data provided by An Post, as the statutory TV licence issuing agent, up to 12th November 2023 show that there were 22,266 total renewals and 2,216 total first time licences. The figures for the equivalent period in 2022 are as follows: 3,552 first time licences and 23,020 total renewals.

Finally, this third table shows the difference between full monthly figures from January to October in 2022 and 2023, and the resultant difference in revenue. As full sales information for the month of November is not available, it would not be appropriate to make an assumption on any potential loss of revenue for the month at this stage.

2022 and 2023 Licence Sales and Sales Revenue

MONTH

SALES 2022

SALES 2023

Difference in Licence Sales

Difference in Revenue (Difference * €160)

January

78,050

78,389

339

€54,240

February

70,648

71,891

1,243

€198,880

March

74,098

79,210

5,112

€817,920

April

73,942

68,795

-5,147

-€823,520

May

73,624

73,598

-26

-€4,160

June

75,067

73,421

-1,646

-€263,360

July

76,769

53,882

-22,887

-€3,661,920

August

77,736

54,664

-23,072

-€3,691,520

September

93,365

66,000

-27,365

-€4,378,400

October

94,905

67,722

-27,183

-€4,349,280

TOTAL

788,204

687,572

-100,632

-€16,101,120

County-by-county data is not available for any of the above.

The TV licence funds a broad range of public service content, enabling essential news and current affairs programming, as well as supporting the creation of a high quality content on culture, sport, entertainment, music and more. It supports many broadcasters and independent producers, in addition to RTÉ. It remains critically important that people continue to pay the TV Licence fee. It is not only required by law, it underpins availability of public service content which is of critical importance to our democracy and society.

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