An Post fails to prosecute half of all TV spongers

HALF of the people caught without TV licences were not prosecuted by An Post inspectors because it cost the company too much, a Government report revealed yesterday.

The figures, which appear in the Comptroller and Auditor General report on TV licence fee collection, are drawn from Dublin statistics, figures for the rest of the country being unavailable. Those who were brought to court were fined an average of €174 each but only 4% subsequently purchased a licence in the three months after the court date.

An Post, which has collected the licence fee since its introduction, announced yesterday it will cease collecting in 2006. The contract is expected to be tendered to private companies.