asked the Minister for Communications if accommodation has been obtained for a headquarters for the Interim Local Radio Authority; the location of the headquarters and the cost to date.
17.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Interim Local Radio Commission.
9.
asked the Minister for Communications the number of times the Interim Local Radio Authority have met; where they met; if they have made any proposals to him regarding the development of local radio; and the cost to the Exchequer of the interim authority.
A Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 17 together.
The Interim Local Radio Commission and their sub-committees have met on ten occasions to date — eight times in Dublin, once in Mullingar and once in Cork.
The interim commission have put forward a number of proposals relating to the provisions of the Local Radio Bill, 1985, as introduced in the Oireachtas and these proposals are being considered. The cost of the Interim Local Radio Commission to date is £27,000 approximately. No accommodation has been acquired for a headquarters for the interim commission and as such no direct accommodation costs have been incurred.
Will the Minister make available to the House the proposals which the Interim Local Radio Authority have put forward since they have ten regions already? Will he state the reason why at least some arrangement is not being made to earmark appropriate accommodation in the Cork area for the headquarters for the new independent local radio authority?
As the Bill progresses through the Oireachtas there will be plenty of time to earmark premises in Cork, where the headquarters will be located eventually, as I announced previously. I do not intend to publish the proposals of the Interim Local Radio Commission.