Over €222 million was raised from the TV licence fee last year despite the Covid pandemic, new figures have revealed.
In accordance with the Broadcasting Act An Post got €10 million for collecting the cash as the official telly tax agent while 7pc of net receipts, €14.8m also went to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) .
This money was put into the broadcasting fund to support the sound and vision and archiving schemes.
The rest, €197.2 million, went to RTE, the national broadcaster and is its main source of income.
The Communications Minister Catherine Martin confirmed 9,555 summons were issued in 2020 for non-payment of the licence fee and 4,581 went to court.
She told Kerry Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin in reply to a written Dail question; "An Post makes every effort to reduce evasion and prosecution is a last resort.
"Once prosecutions proceed to Court the cost is borne by the Court Service.
"The estimated TV licence evasion rate last year was 15.16pc giving a compliance rate of 84.84pc."
The Minister said not all households in the country have televisions with TAM/Neilson - the TV Audience Measurement - estimating the number of no tv homes to be 12.9pc.
Her department takes this into account when estimating the total number of licensable dwellings, which was 1,679,798 resulting in a rate of 132 euro per dwelling.
This is 28 euro less than the annual fee of 160 euros.
Minister Martin said the long awaited Media Commission on the future of print, broadcasting, and online media will be reporting to the Government shortly.
Under the chairmanship of Professor Brian MacCraith it is examining the challenges facing the sector, and to consider the extent to which the current models of delivery are the appropriate ones for the next 10 years.
She added; "It is also examining how the public service media such as RTE can be funded in a way that is sustainable, ensures independent editorial oversight and delivers value for money to the public.
"This includes consideration of the current television licence fee model."
