Today, Communications Minister Eamon Ryan announced that the RTÉ licence fee is to be increased by €2. This brings the total payable for a TV licence to €160. This will take effect from 1 January 2008.
It is estimated that this will increase license revenues to RTÉ by approximately €2.8 million. Coupled with new households coming onstream and a reduction in the level of evasion, this will result in additional public funding to RTÉ of approximately €14m in 2008. Five per cent of the total licence fee collected goes towards the Broadcasting Fund which supports independent radio and television programme making.
This measure was agreed by Government today, following an independent review by Indecon consultants of RTÉ’s performance in 2006. The review is an annual exercise undertaken to assess RTÉ’s Output Commitments and its progress in the Change Programme.
The report concluded that RTÉ had exceeded most of its Output Commitments i.e. its objectives in broadcasting output and financial managements. It also progressed well in its Change Programme i.e. restructuring and change management. Overall, it concluded that RTÉ was providing value for money for the Irish taxpayer.
Minister Ryan: This is a modest increase that will allow RTÉ to continue to strengthen the public service schedules it delivers in increasingly competitive television and radio markets.
Recent successes in the level of indigenous broadcasting should remain firmly on RTÉ’s agenda as the Irish viewer looks to RTÉ for the development of homegrown talent and programming that tell us about the Ireland of today.
This increase will also assist RTÉ as it introduces Digital Terrestrial Television throughout the country, in preparation of the analogue switch-off date by 2012. This will require significant input and technological advances by RTÉ as they work with the BCI, ComReg and industry to deliver on this commitment.
In addition to the licence fee, my Department will be reinvigorating the current annual review process.
There will be increased focus on value for money, cost management and more precise performance indicators. I am confident that RTÉ will provide the Irish viewer with good reason for this increase.
Note for Editors:
Persons qualifying for the Household Benefit Package administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs can qualify for a free television licence. Further details of this package are available from the Department of Social and Family Affairs’ website at www.welfare.ie. In context, an estimated 300,000 households in Ireland could qualify for a free television licence.
ENDS
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