The current level of TV licence evasion is estimated to be 14.1%. While the rate has fallen from 15.3% at the end of 2013, it is still very high and equates to a loss of €40m per annum to public service broadcasting.
As the Deputy will be aware, I obtained Government approval last year to draft a number of legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Act 2009, including amendments for the tendering of TV Licence fee collection.
The proposed amendments were considered under Pre-Legislative Scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment and I received their report on March 8th. The contents of this report are being considered by my officials and by Parliamentary Counsel in the drafting process, which is currently underway.
As the Deputy is also aware, I requested the Committee to examine the longer term issue of the future funding of public service media. The Committee published their report at the end of November 2017. It was debated in the Dáil on 29 March. I will be bringing proposals to Government for examination on July 24th. In the meantime, there will be no change to the existing TV licence fee arrangements and An Post continues to work as the issuing agent for television licences in accordance with Section 145 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.
