INCOME FROM THE €160 TV licence fee continues to decline, with €5.7 million less collected to date this year compared to the same period last year.

New figures provided by the minister for culture and communications reveal that 536,551 licences were sold in the first nine months of this year, which represents TV licence income of €85.86 million.

Responding to a written Dáil question from Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly, Minister Patrick O’Donovan said the state sold 35,748 fewer licences than it did for the same period last year. This represents a 6% drop.

The income generated from the 572,299 licences sold for the first nine months of last year was €91.56 million, showing an income hit of €5.7 million year-on-year.

The number of households qualifying for a free TV licence increases every year by between 13,000 and 20,000 due to an ageing population. Fewer younger people own televisions now, which has likely also contributed to the reduction in revenue.

Based on the data for the first nine months of 2026, the income generated from the projected 715,401 TV licences to be sold for the full year will be around €114.46 million.

It would be €37.2 million below the €151.66 million generated in TV licence revenues in 2022, before the RTÉ payments controversy of 2023.

The projected €114.46 million for this year will also be €8.5 million down on the €122.98 million generated from the sale of 768,657 licences in 2025.

Farrelly, who is a member of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said the figures show the system has “collapsed”.

“There is no doubt that the TV licence system needs an overhaul and full reform, it is not fit for purpose,” he said.

“It is an area I intend to explore with RTÉ and the Department when they are before the Public Accounts Committee”

The €160 TV licence is collected by An Post and the revenues go to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport who provide approximately 85% to RTÉ to carry out its public service media commitments.

A further 7% is paid to Coimisiún na Meán, and 6% is paid to An Post for collecting the fees.

O’Donovan said the interdepartmental Technical Working Group on the Reform and Enhancement of the Television Licence was reconvened by the government “to examine potential administrative, technical and legislative measures”.

He said that the group submitted its report to him before the summer recess.

“I intend to bring the report to government shortly to decide on the next steps,” O’Donovan said.

“The timing of the publication of the report will be contingent on when this decision is made. It would not be appropriate for me to disclose the contents of the report prior to it being considered by government.”

Asked to comment on the TV licence model, a spokesman for RTÉ said on Friday: “While we believe clarification regarding funding of public service media is vital, questions regarding the funding mechanism are for government.”