Written Answers Nos. 200-219
200. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the significant reduction in spend from RTÉ to the independent production sector here (details supplied); the steps he is taking to ensure that this spend in the sector is increased back to 2007 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48488/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra203. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the significant reduction in spend from RTÉ to the Irish independent production sector (details supplied); the steps being taken to ensure that this spend in the sector is increased back to 2007 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48511/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra209. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the significant reduction in spend from RTÉ to the independent production sector here (details supplied); the steps he is taking to ensure that this spend in the sector is increased back to 2007 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48557/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra215. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the reduction in spend from RTÉ to the Irish independent production sector (details supplied); the steps he is taking to ensure that this spend in the sector is increased back to 2007 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48639/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 200, 203, 209 and 215 together.
Section 116 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that RTÉ make specific amounts available each year for the commissioning of television and radio programmes from the independent production sector. The statutory minimum amount for 2009 was €40m, and for subsequent years, the Act provides that the statutory minimum amount varies in line with the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI).
While the level of funding has reduced, as you will see from the following table, RTÉ has exceeded the statutory amount of spend required for each year.
|
Year |
Statutory Obligation |
Actual Expenditure |
Excess over Statutory Obligation |
|
2017 |
€39.5m |
€40.16million |
1.67% |
|
2016 |
€39.5million |
€40.3million |
2% |
|
2015 |
€39.5million |
€40.6million |
3% |
|
2014 |
€39.4million |
€40.9million |
4% |
|
2013 |
€39.3million |
€40.8million |
4% |
|
2012 |
€38.5million |
€42.1million |
9% |
|
2011 |
€37.7million |
€48.9million |
30% |
|
2010 |
€37.6million |
€53.944million |
43% |
I am very much aware of the challenges that face the existing TV Licence system, including the current unacceptable levels of evasion. While the rate has fallen from 15.3% at the end of 2013 to the current rate of 14.1%, it is still very high.
Government approval was obtained 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 Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment and their report was received on March 8th. The Bill is currently being drafted by Parliamentary Counsel and is included as a priority on the Government's Legislative Programme.
The Committee were requested to examine the longer term issue of the future funding of public service media and the Committee published their report at the end of November 2017. Following consideration of the recommendations made in that report, Government approval was received in July 2018 to establish a Working Group on the Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting. The Working Group will examine a number of options to support future funding and the reform of television licence fee collection and it is intended that it will report to me in Q1 2019.
201. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the aspects of the television licence fee reform the interdepartmental working group is reviewing; when this report will be published; if there will be engagement by the group with stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48489/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra202. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he will make his views on public service broadcasting made known; his further views on licence fee reform; when the action plan in relation to these areas will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48490/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra204. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the aspects of the television licence fee reform the interdepartmental working group is reviewing; when he expects this report to be published; if there will be engagement by the group with stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48512/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra205. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on public service broadcasting; his further views on licence fee reform; when he plans to publish his action plan points in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48513/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra207. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on appointing the Revenue Commissioners as the licence fee collection agent to help reduce evasion rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48515/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra210. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the aspects of the television licence fee reform the interdepartmental working group is reviewing; when this report will be published; if there will be engagement by the group with stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48558/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra211. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on public service broadcasting; his further views on licence fee reform; when his action plan points in these areas will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48559/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra213. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on appointing the Revenue Commissioners as the licence fee collection agent to help reduce evasion rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48561/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra216. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the aspects of the television licence fee reform the interdepartmental working group is reviewing; when he expects this report to be published; if there will be engagement by the group with stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48640/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra217. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on public service broadcasting; his further views on licence fee reform; when he will publish his action plan points in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48641/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra219. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on appointing the Revenue Commissioners as the licence fee collection agent to help reduce evasion rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48643/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 201, 202, 204, 205, 207, 210, 211, 213, 216, 217 and 219 together.
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment examined the longer term issue of the future funding of public service media, which included a period of public consultation and stakeholder engagement. The Committee published their report at the end of November 2017.
Following consideration of the recommendations made in that report, Government approval was received in July 2018 to establish a Working Group on the Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting.
The group is chaired by an Assistant Secretary from my Department and comprises senior officials from the Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The Report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting forms an important input into the work of the group. There are no plans, therefore, for any further stakeholder engagement by the Working Group. The group will examine the following options for the future funding of public service broadcasting and collection of the TV Licence fee:
- Collection by the Revenue Commissioners;
- Tendering for Licence Fee Collection;
- Replacement of the fee with a Broadcasting Charge or a variation.
The group will also examine the following related issues:
- A more equitable contribution from the business sector, for example through the introduction of different rates or categories of licence.
- The impact of the new arrangements on the current licence fee collection mechanism
- Any legislative, administrative or resource changes required to implement recommendations
- The likely timeline for transition to any new arrangement
- A Communications Strategy to inform stakeholders of planned changes
The Group is meeting monthly to consider of all of the issues set out above. It is intended that the Group will report back to me in Q1 2019 and I will revert to Government at that stage.
206. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he will meet with an organisation (details supplied) to discuss the Irish independent production sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48514/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra212. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he will meet an organisation (details supplied) to discuss the independent production sector here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48560/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra214. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he will meet an organisation (details supplied) to discuss the independent production sector here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48624/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra218. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he will meet an organisation (details supplied) to discuss the Irish independent production sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48642/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 206, 212, 214 and 218 together.
My officials met with Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) earlier this year for a full briefing on the Irish independent production sector.
SPI have recently been in contact with my office requesting a meeting since my appointment as Minister for Communications, Climate Action & Environment. Unfortunately, this has not been possible at the present time due to diary commitments. I have, however, offered SPI the opportunity to meet with relevant officials from my Department who will brief me on any issues arising.
208. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions taken to date to address the divergence of incentives in the uptake of retrofits in rental housing between landlords and tenants; the actions planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48539/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraRental properties present a particular challenge in terms of energy efficiency upgrades owing to the split incentive issue. A split incentive occurs where landlords meet the cost of improvements, while tenants would reap the benefit, so neither party is motivated to upgrade the dwelling. This is why there is currently under-investment in improving the energy performance of rental properties.
Grants for energy efficiency, funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), are already available to landlords. Improving the energy efficiency of rental properties, both residential and commercial, will deliver multiple benefits, including improved living conditions and health outcomes, enhanced asset value and reduced energy bills. However, in identifying the appropriate policy interventions the priority has also been to ensure that the approach taken to address energy poverty will also not adversely impact the housing supply situation.
To find a way forward that supports action in the two critical policy areas of energy poverty and housing supply, options for improving energy efficiency in the rental sector will be proposed by an advisory Group composed of my Department, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and SEAI. These options will be consulted on early in 2019 as part of developing the next Long Term Renovation Strategy.
