RTE licence fee increase put on hold

The Government has not yet announced the expected increase in the RTÉ licence fee despite a Cabinet discussion on the issue today…

The Government has not yet announced the expected increase in the RTÉ licence fee despite a Cabinet discussion on the issue today.

RTÉ is requesting an increase in the licence fee of €43 to €150 to keep pace with rising costs. The Government considered the 2001 report of the RTÉ Authority and the Minister for Communications Mr Ahern briefed his colleagues on the report from the Forum on Broadcasting today.

The forum report called for significant changes in the management of RTÉ and called for a licence fee increase.

But a Government spokesman said that any fee increase would not be announced for another few weeks until other issues contained in the forum report are resolved.