Dublin, Tralee and Wexford worst offenders for TV licence non-payment

More than 16,000 summonses were issued last year for non-payment of TV licences.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said prosecution was a matter for An Post.

The overwhelming majority of the 16,566 summonses were issued in Dublin, a total of 9,761 but the figures include summonses not served.

After Dublin the largest number of offenders were in Co Kerry with 540 summonses issued in Tralee.

Wexford was next largest with 399 summonses issued, followed by Ennis where 393 summonses were served and then Limerick where 391 people were summonsed for non-payment.

The Minister issued the figures to Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan.

Evasion rates for the €160 TV licence are estimated at 15 per cent resulting in a revenue shortfall of more than €25 million a year.

Last year figures issued by the Department of Communications showed more than 30,000 people had signed statutory declarations that they did not have a television in their home, indication of a growing use of tablets, computers, laptops, phones and other devices to watch television.

The Government had planned to introduce a broadcasting charge for all households, but it will not be introduced during the remaining lifetime of this Government.

The list of court offences and summonses issued:

Athlone 88

Ballina 37

Bray 162

Carlow 104

Carrick On Shannon 57

Cavan 189

Castlebar 107

Clonakilty 125

Clonmel 335

Cork 256

Donegal 10

Dublin 9,761

Dundalk 331

Ennis 393

Galway 306

Kilkenny 108

Letterkenny 78

Limerick 391

Longford 162

Loughrea 86

Mallow 250

Monaghan 82

Mullingar 195

Naas 390

Nenagh 317

Portlaoise 242

Roscommon 39

Sligo 170

Tralee 540

Trim 292

Tullamore 207

Waterford 298

Wexford 399

Youghal 59