An Post given €6million to crack down on TV licence fee dodgers

Evasion rates in Ireland are the highest in Europe.

In a press release posted on the government website earlier this week, Media Minister Catherine Martin outlined "investment in a new database and data management system" so that staff at An Post can strengthen their ability to collect the payment from members of the public.

The statement declares that An Post will receive "an Exchequer allocation of €6m over a three-year period for necessary collection system and technological improvements."

Minister Martin added: "Government has agreed to provide the necessary investment for An Post to develop more appropriate data and operational systems.

"On this basis, I have asked that the Technical Working Group, which Government previously set up to examine the reform of the TV licence, be re-convened to further examine the necessary changes and enhancements in light of this funding commitment."

The Technical Working Group was set up by Government in September 2022 to examine reform and enhancement of the TV licence. 

Its terms of reference include an examination of TV Licence collection mechanisms, enforcement procedures, database issues and a review of liability to purchase a TV Licence. 

The Group is chaired by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and includes representatives from the Departments of Finance; Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Social Protection; Justice; the Revenue Commissioners; ComReg and An Post.

The new development came as part of a wider commitment from the Cabinet to retain the TV licence which has been in place since 1962, and supplement RTÉ with a multi-annual top-up from the Exchequer.

The new injection of funds comes a year after the RTE payments scandal, which revealed a significant drop in the number of households renewing their licence fee.

The figures represented a loss of nearly €1 million in income – a drop of about 30% from the previous year.

The TV licence fee will remain at the €160 it was set at in 2016.

Currently, the evasion rate in Ireland stands at just over 15% – compared to 2% in Germany, 5% in Austria and 7% in the UK.

Minister Martin said that an on-the-spot ‘fixed penalty notice’ could be issued to those who are found without a TV licence, ‘as an alternative to issuing a court summons’.

"The problem at the minute is because of anonymous households, the fixed penalty notice can’t be issued right now.

"I think they should look at that as an alternative," she added.

"So it could be you get your letter to pay your TV licence and, within a set period, if you haven’t paid there is a fixed penalty notice."

She also prioritised the importance of 'modernising' An Post's current method of gathering TV licence holder data.

"We are looking at strengthening of the database, so currently 20% of the database is anonymous – there’s not proper use of Eircodes," she said.

Under current rules, if someone doesn’t buy a TV licence they receive a court summons, and if convicted a fine of €1,000 is imposed in the first instance and €2,000 for subsequent offences.

However, these can be avoided if the fee is paid in the intervening period.