RTE welcomes €3 licence fee increase

The decision by the Minister for Communications, Mr Noel Dempsey, to award a licence fee increase of €3 to RTE has been welcomed…

The decision by the Minister for Communications, Mr Noel Dempsey, to award a licence fee increase of €3 to RTE has been welcomed by the national broadcaster.

The increase will come into effect on April 1 next year and will bring the cost of the licence to €155.

The Director-General of RTE, Mr Cathal Goan, said: "RTÉ is delighted that its increased financial security allows it to continue to bring the best of Irish programming to its audience. This is the third year in succession that the state has recognised the important contribution the National Public Service Broadcaster is making to Irish society."

"With today's announcement I can confidently say that RTÉ will continue to bring the best of home-production in the most cost-effective way possible to all audiences while planning for a digital future," he added.