The television license fee will be linked to media consumption as part of RTÉ funding reforms to be agreed by the cabinet.
The cabinet today signs the publication of the Future of Media Commission report, which outlines a series of proposals to ensure that all forms of media are “viable, independent and capable of delivering public service goals”.
The committee made several recommendations on the financing of RTÉ, including the introduction of a household tax, fixed financing of the treasury and reforms of the current system of license fees.
However, Media Minister Catherine Martin spoke out against these proposals and is instead setting up a ‘technical working group’ to examine reforms to the current TV licensing model.
The technical group will address issues related to making license fee collection more effective.
They will also examine how the license fee can be “future-proofed so that revenues will increase as the housing stock increases,” according to a briefing note on the government’s plans.
The note also stated: “The license fee remains, but will be adjusted to reflect how people now consume media and collection needs to be strengthened.”
“This would all happen after a closer look at the potential monetization capacity of the TV licensing system. It will be necessary to work with other departments, agencies and An Post to work out these complex issues in detail,” it added.
The document said work will begin immediately setting out the required legislative and administrative changes.
Separately, another 2,000 military and civilian personnel will be added to the armed forces under plans approved by the cabinet.
Defense Secretary Simon Coveney will present a memo to the cabinet today to increase state spending on the military to $1.5 billion a year by 2028.
Central to the new funding is increasing the number of armed forces personnel from 9,500 to 11,500.
Set out in the Commission on Defense Forces Report, the proposals will see €8 billion in taxpayers’ money spent on the Irish military over the next six years.