More than 100,000 fewer people have purchased a TV licence this year compared to the same period in 2022 following the RTÉ payments scandal, resulting in a €16.1 million loss of revenue.

The number of licences purchased has plummeted by an average of 25,127 in each of the four months since details emerged of secret payments to Ryan Tubridy, new figures have revealed.

The reduction in revenue from the licence fee has worsened a financial crisis at the national broadcaster. This week, the Government agreed a €56 million bailout for RTÉ, which intends to reduce its workforce by 400 by 2028.

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The latest data was published by Media Minister Catherine Martin in response to a parliamentary question from Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin. The figures include licence sales through post offices, online, by phone, and direct debit.

The number of first-time licence purchases last month was 4,725 – just over half the number that were purchased in May, the month before the RTÉ payments scandal emerged.

While total monthly sales were consistent with last year’s figures for the first six months of 2023, they plunged in July by 22,887, resulting in a revenue loss of €3.7 million that month alone.

That pattern has continued, and the total shortfall in TV licence revenue arising from the reduction in purchases this year stands at just over €16.1 million to the end of last month.

However, Minister Martin said it remains “critically important” that people pay the TV licence fee.

“The TV licence funds a broad range of public service content, enabling essential news and current affairs programming, as well as supporting the creation of a high quality content on culture, sport, entertainment, music and more,” she said.

“It supports many broadcasters and independent producers, in addition to RTÉ. It remains critically important that people continue to pay the TV licence fee.

“It is not only required by law, it underpins availability of public service content which is of critical importance to our democracy and society.”

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