Television licence renewal notices covering 2012, which will be received by the end of this year, have to be paid, the Finance Ministry said. During the Budget speech, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech had announced there would be no television licences as from next year but outstanding bills will still have to be settled.

The removal of the licence would leave about €4 million in families’ pockets

When contacted for clarification, a spokesman for the Finance Ministry said people still needed to renew their TV licence covering the period between December 30 of this year and December 30 of next year.

Licence renewal notices would stop being sent as from January 1. Mr Fenech said the removal of the licence would leave about €4 million in families’ pockets. A scheme will be launched to allow people with unpaid TV licences to come clean and regularise their position without paying any fines.

The government had become frustrated with the number of people believed not to be paying their TV licence – which numbered about 35,000 in October last year – and warned at the time that it was considering legal action against defaulters.

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