TV licence inspectors calling on holiday homes during bank holiday weekend

TV licence inspectors will be visiting on holiday homes and mobile homes during the Easter bank holiday weekend.

Cottages, mobile homes, caravans and even boats will be checked.

Adverts are currently running on radio stations warning of the inspections.

A total of more than one million people paid the €160 fee last year but An Post believes there are still hundreds of thousands of evaders across the country.

The law states that any property that has a TV set must have a TV licence and there are no exceptions for holiday homes.

Conviction for non-payment of a television licence (first offence) is a fine of up to €1,000.

If you are convicted a second time or more for not paying your television licence, you will be fined up to €2,000.

Many  holiday properties have been vacant during the winter - but it's likely the owners will be present for weekend breaks from now on.

An Post prosecuted thousands of cases through the courts for non-payment of the licence last year and a small number were even jailed. TV licences can be paid at www.tvlicence.ie.

Last year, An Post hired extra Temporary TV Licence Inspectors who work Monday to Saturday.