156.— (1) In this section “net receipts” in relation to the receipt of television licence fees, means the total receipts less any expenses in respect of those receipts certified by the Minister as having been incurred by him or her in that year in relation to the collection of the fees.

(2) The Minister, with the approval of the Minister for Finance, may pay to the Authority out of monies provided by the Oireachtas for the purposes of grants under a scheme and any administration of or reasonable expenses relating to a scheme, in respect of each financial year, an amount being equal to 7 per cent of net receipts in that year in respect of television licence fees.

(3) The Minister, with the approval of the Minister for Finance, may from time to time pay to the Authority out of monies provided by the Oireachtas such an amount as he or she determines to be reasonable for the purposes of grants under a scheme and any administration of or reasonable expenses relating to a scheme.