Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 April 2024
79. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the latest figures regarding TV licence renewal and purchase for 2024 versus 2023; the end of year figures for same for 2023 as a whole versus 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18417/24]
View answerThe statutory basis for the current TV licence system is provided for under Part 9 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The legislation also provides for An Post acting as the statutory issuing agent for licence fee collection.
The most up to date figures of TV licences issued by An Post for 2024, in respect of the week ending 21 April, show that to date this year An Post has recorded a total of 232,470 TV licences sales comprising 24,986 first time licences and 207,484 renewals. The equivalent figure for the same period in 2023 was 268,332 total sales comprising 231,599 renewals and 36,733 first time licences. This represents an overall reduction of 35,862 or 13.4%.
Total TV licence sales recorded by An Post in 2023 amount to 824,278 consisting of 91,746 first time licences and 732,532 renewals. The equivalent figures for 2022 are 947,924 total licences recorded, consisting of 115,951 first time licences and 831,973 renewals.
As I have stated previously, public service content and public service broadcasting is a vital pillar of our society and indeed our democracy. The TV licence supports not only RTÉ, but content provided by other broadcasters and producers who are supported through the sound and vision scheme and therefore it remains important that we all play out part in supporting public service content by continuing to purchase or renew our TV licences. I urge everyone who is required to have a TV licence to purchase or renew it. Not only is it the law of the land, it is an important element of the funding for valuable public service media content.
