'Marked increase in evasion' as TV licence revenue continues to decline

In response to the new figures for the first five months to the end of 2026, Sinn Féin TD Darren O’Rourke stated that it is clear “that the TV licence funding model is completely broken”. Picture: Andy Gibson.

Income from the TV licence fee continues to decline, wth a "marked increase in evasion" since the RTÉ secret payments scandal a significant factor in the plummeting number, the latest data show.

There was just under €48m generated from nearly 300,000 TV licences sold for the first five months of this year.

New figures provided by Minister for State at the Department of Culture, Charlie McConalogue TD (FF) reveal that the 299,373 licences sold to the end of May are a 4.5% decrease year on year.

Mr McConalogue said that the 299,373 licences for the first five months of 2026 compare to 768,000 licences sold for the 12 months of 2025, which was in turn a 3% decline on the 792,000 licences sold in 2024.

In 2023, the year the RTÉ secret payments controversy came to light, TV licence sales fell by 13%, from 947,924 in 2022 to 824,278 in 2023.

In response to the new figures for the first five months to the end of 2026, Sinn Féin TD Darren O’Rourke stated that it is clear “that the TV licence funding model is completely broken”.

Mr O’Rourke claimed that “the single biggest contributing factor is scandal after scandal in RTÉ."

In 2019, over 1m TV licences were sold, he said.

Mr O’Rourke said that fewer than 300,000 TV licences have been sold so far this year compared to last year "is a very significant decrease and it calls into serious question the fundamental funding model for public sector broadcasting in this State".

In his Dáil response, Mr McConalogue said that the number of TV licences sold by An Post in recent years has been driven by three factors.

Reasons why number declining

He said: “First, an ageing population means that the number of households qualifying for a free TV licence increases every year by between 13,000 and 20,000.

“Second, the number of households without a liable television set has increased, driven by changes in the way that people access audiovisual services. 

"Third, there has been a marked increase in evasion since the revelations regarding presenter payments and governance failings in RTÉ in July 2023.” 

Mr McConalogue said that in July 2024, the Government decided that the TV licence system would be retained, underpinned by improvements in collection and compliance to maximise revenue generation.

He said that the technical working group on the reform and enhancement of the TV licence was reconvened to bring forward proposals to that effect.

He said that the media minister Patrick O'Donovan recently received the report of the group and will decide on the next steps with Government colleagues.

Mr McConalogue said that the report “will be considered and I have no doubt over the next short period we will step it out in responding to it and plotting the way forward”.

He said: "There are real challenges there, as we all accept. It is really important we see the continuing reform happening at RTÉ to build confidence in the public in terms of people purchasing their TV licence.

“I think we all agree it is more important than ever at the moment that we have a good public service broadcaster in this country and have that service.

“When we see what is happening in the level of disinformation and misinformation now in the online world, having a credible, authoritative public service broadcaster is more important than ever. We have recognised that at Government level in putting the funding streams in place to support RTÉ."

It is important to ensure there is a sustainable way forward and a strong broadcaster underpinned by that funding into the future, he added.

 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 media regulator Coimisiún na Meán, and An Post is paid approximately 6% of the licence fee in respect of TV licence collection activities.