An additional €140 million of its €340 million annual budget comes from commercial activities, principally advertising. RTÉ brings in some €200 million a year in licence fee income, though the State broadcaster has long complained that the rate of evasion and avoidance costs it huge sums every year. An Post is currently responsible for issuing licences and collecting payments. However, sources say that detailed discussions with Revenue, and possibly legislation, would be required before the change could come into effect.Īll consumers of television programmes are required to pay the charge, with those who do not open to a fine of up to €1,000 (or €2,000 for subsequent offences). It is hoped that transferring responsibility to the Revenue Commissioners for collecting it will dramatically reduce evasion rates. Number of TV licences sold last year falls short by almost 70,000.RTÉ faces ‘existential’ financial crisis, Government told.Michael McDowell: TV licence system is a grotesque failure.RTÉ estimates that it loses out on some €50 million a year in revenue because of non-payment of the fee.
Instead, sources expect that the Revenue Commissioners would in future be asked to collect the charge.
The Government is expected to reject a recommendation from the Future of Media Commission that the €160 annual fee be scrapped totally and replaced with direct exchequer funding for RTÉ, according to senior figures with knowledge of the discussions that have taken place on the issue. The move aims to bolster funding for public service broadcasting and reduce the numbers not paying the charge, with the rate of evasion estimated to be running at about 15 per cent. The Revenue Commissioners would be asked to collect the television licence fee in the future under a proposal to be considered later this month by Ministers.
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