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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Dec 1993

Vol. 437 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teilifís na Gaeilge.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

6 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht his funding proposals for Teilifís na Gaeilge; if European funding has been sought; whether it is available; the way in which he intends to fund the station; the estimated annual cost, the estimated cost per hour of home produced programmes and the timescale envisaged for the development of Teilifís na Gaeilge; and when he will publish the reports available to him on the development of Teilifís na Gaeilge.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

7 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if, in regard to the reported Cabinet decision of 23 November 1993 in regard to Teilifís na Gaeilge, he will give the likely start up date; the area that will be covered by the service; the way in which it will be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

10 D'fhiafraigh Mr. Sargent den Aire Ealaíon, Cultúir agus Gaeltachta cén teideal a bheidh ar an mbealach teilifíse nuafhógartha; cá háit, nó áiteanna, go díreach a mbeidh sé lonnaithe; cé mhéad duine a bheidh fostaithe go díreach ag an stáisiún; cathain a thosófar ag earcú foirne don stáisiún nua; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas faoi gach gné den cheist seo.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

22 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht a the reason he has not published the background reports available to him on Teilifís na Gaeilge; and when he will publish them.

Ivor Callely

Question:

30 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the impact the proposed new Irish television channel may have on television licence fees; if he has given consideration to accommodating the necessary air time on either or both of the other two national television channels RTE 1 and Network 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Question:

37 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the effect the establishment of the proposed Teilifís na Gaeilge will have on the TV licence fee; the likely total contribution by the Exchequer to its establishment; and the annual running cost of such a service.

P. J. Sheehan

Question:

51 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the reason he has not published the background reports available to him on Teilifís na Gaeilge; and when he will publish them.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

99 D'fhiafraigh Mr. McGinley den Aire Ealaíon, Cultúir agus Gaeltachta an bhféadfadh sé a rá cén áit a mbeidh ceannáras Theilifís na Gaeilge lonnaithe; agus cén uair a bhfuil súil aige go mbeidh an tseirbhís ar fáil.

Ivor Callely

Question:

104 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the estimated costs for the establishment and running costs of the proposed new Irish language television channel.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

110 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the reason he has not published the background reports available to him on Teilifís na Gaeilge; and when he will publish them.

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimhir 6, 7, 10, 22, 30, 37, 51, 99, 104 agus 110 le chéile.

Tá an Rialtas tar éis cead a thabhairt dom treoir a thabhairt do RTÉ tús a chur láithreach leis an obair thógála ar ghréasán tarchuradóirí, i gcaoi is go mbeidh an glacadh is foreleithne is féidir ag tús craolta na seirbhíse, agus ar nascghréasán microthonn agus áiseanna láithriúcháin agus clár-léiriúcháin a ghabhann leo, ag ceanncheathrú Theilifís na Gaeilge, a bheidh lonnaithe i gceantar Bhaile na hAbhann/An Tulach, i nGaeltacht na Gaillimhe, agus freisin i nDomhnach Broc, i mBaile Atha Cliath.

Tá an Rialtas tar éis údarás a thabhairt dom freisin treoir a thabhairt do RTÉ gurb iad a bheidh freagrach as earcú fóirne agus as coimisiúnú cláracha don tseirbhís nua, fad is atáthar ag ullmhú struchtúr reachtúil neamhspleách do Theilifís na Gaeilge. Táthar ag iarraidh ar RTÉ Comhairle naonúir a cheapadh faoi alt 21 den Acht Craolacháin, 1960, chun comhairle a chur ar Údarás RTÉ maidir le fostú fóirne ar chonradh agus maidir le coimisiúnú cláracha roimh thús craolta na seirbhíse nua. Bhí cruinniú agam cheana féin le Cathaoirleach Udarás RTÉ agus leis an bPríomh-Stiúrthóir chun iad a chur ar an eolas maidir le cinneadh an Rialtais.

Déanfar maoiniú ar an gcostas capitil a ghabhann le bunú na seirbhíse as an mbarrachas airgid, £17.9 milliúin a bhí carntha de bhreis ar an srian a bhí i bhfeidhm ar ioncam fógraíochta RTÉ. Chuir RTÉ £13.4 mhilliún den iomlán sin ar fáil don Státchiste faoi réir an Achta Airgeadais, 1993. De réir na meastachán atá curtha ar fáil dom, beidh costas iomlán caipitil £17.35 mhilliún ag dul leis an togra seo. Caithfear tuairim £6 mhilliún den méid sin sa bhliain 1994. Tá an t-airgead seo i dtaisce i gcuntas ar leith ag RTÉ agus ní bheidh aon airgead Státchiste ag teastáil chuige seo sa bhliain 1994. Beidh costas reatha £3 mhilliún i gceist, áfach, sa bhliain 1994 agus caithfear an t-airgead sin ar earcú fóirne, ar chúrsaí oiliúna agus ar ullmhú cláracha. Cuirfear an costas reatha sin ar fáil i bhfoirm deontais-i-gcabhair do RTÉ trí Vóta mo Roinne-se.

Mar a mhínigh mé i bhfreagra don Teach ar 4 Samhain, meastar go gcosnódh trí uair a chloig de chláracha in aghaidh an lae tuairim £16 mhilliún sa bhliain. Anuas ar sin bheadh costas £5 mhilliún breise in aghaidh na bliana i gceist i ndáil le costais reatha eile na seirbhíse. Tá sé i gceist, áfach, go gcuirfeadh REÉ, mar chuid dá sheirbhís phoiblí, uair a chloig de chláracha ar fáil in aghaidh an lae, gan chostas do Theilifís na Gaeilge. Chiallódh sin go mbeadh glanchostas reatha £16 mhilliún sa bhliain ag baint le Teilifís na Gaeilge i luachanna an lae inniu.

Idir seo agus an túsdáta craolta, tá fúm fiosrú a dhéanamh foai na bealaí ina bhféadfaí na meastacháin sin a laghdú. Beidh mé, i gcomhairle leis an aire Airgeadais, ag fiosrú modhanna ina bhféadfaí an caiteachas sin a mhaoiniú. Faoi mar atá luaite sa Chlár le haghaidh Rialtais Chomhpháirtíochta, tiocfaidh an chuid is mó den airgead ón Státchiste. Nílim ag smaoineamh ar aon ardú a chur ar an táille do cheadúnais teilifíse chun maoiniú a dhéanamh ar Theilifís na Gaeilge. Tá tús curtha le comhráitíle feidhmeannaigh de chuid Aontais na hEorpa féachaint an féidir cistíocht a fháil ón bhfoinse sin agus leanfar leis na fiosruithe sin.

Meastar go gcuirfear tús le craolta na seirbhíse nua i bhFómhar na bliana 1995. Ag glacadh leis go mbeidh maoiniú sásúil caipitil ar fáil don togra i 1995, bheinn ag súil go mbeadh suas le 90 faoin gcéad de dhaonra na tíre in ann an tseirbhís a ghlacadh ó thús craolta.

Tá dóchas agam go mbeidh an tseirbhís nua, ach í faoi lánseol, in ann fostaíocht a bhunú agus a bhuanú do bhreis agus dhá chéad duine san earnáil closamhairc, sa Ghaeltacht agus taobh amuigh di. Measter go mbeith suas le tríocha duine ar fad ar fhoireann bhuan an stáisiúin nua.

Faoi mar is eol do na Teachtaí, bhunaigh mé dhá choiste comhairleach, An Coiste Bunaithe agus An Coiste Teicniúil, mar chabhair do dhréachtadh na mion-mholtaí maidir le Teilifís na Gaeilge. Chuir mé san áireamh na moltaí a rinne an dá choiste sin agus mé ag ullmhú mo chuid moltáí féin, atá anois glactha leo ag an Rialtas.

Scrúdaigh an Rialtas an rogha faoina bhféadfaí an tseirbhís nua a chur ar cheann de na cainéil atá ag RTÉ cheann féin ach diúltaíodh don rogha sin ar mhórán cúiseanna.

Dearbhaíonn an méid atá sa Chlár le haghaidh Rialtais Chomhpháirtíochta gur mar chainéil ar leith a bhunófaí Teilifís na Gaeilge agus tá an Rialtas ag seasamh leis an dearbhú sin. Cuireann RTÉ sceideal comhlántach cláracha ar fáil ar an dá chainéal teilifíse atá faoina stiúir. Dá mbeifí chun Teilifís na Gaeilge a chur ar cheann den dá chainéal sin, chaithfí sciar substaintiúil de sceideal an ardtráthnóna ar cheann de na cainéil a thabhairt don tseirbhís nua. Chuirfeadh a leithéid de shocrú srian iomarcach ar fhorbairt Theilifís na Gaeilge agus chuirfeadh sé isteach go mór freisin ar sceidil RTÉ. Bheadh deireadh leis an sceideal comhlántach atá RTÉ in ann a sholáthar faoi láthair agus bheadh deireadh freisin leis an solúbthacht sceidil a chuireann ar chumas RTÉ oll-chlúdach nach féidir a shárú a dhéanamh ar mhór-ócáidí.

Is the annual estimated cost of running the station of £16 million inclusive of RTE's contribution?

I made it clear in my answer that the value of one hour's programming provided by Radio Telefís Éireann is £5 million and, therefore, the figure I have given comes off the gross cost.

The Minister said it will cost RTE £5 million annually to supply one hour of television per day to Teilifís na Gaeilge. Is that not a conservative estimate? Will the cost to RTE not be greater? In the question I tabled I asked what cost per hour on home produced programmes the Minister used in his calculation. Will he agree that he has built a low cost per hour figure into his calculations? Is the Minister optimistic about European funding and what criteria will have to be fulfilled for Teilifís na Gaeilge to be eligible for European funding?

In relation to the cost per hour, the Deputy who is familiar with broadcasting will know that costs differ for boardcasts of one hour for different types of programmes. I am happy that the figure of £5 million is conservative in that it is a high figure.

In relation to the source of European funding, officials of my Department have been in touch with many different sections of the European Community in relation to funding. It is clear that rather than funding coming from a single source within the Commission of the European Union, there are many different sections that can assist different parts of the operating costs and procedures.

Ba mhaith liom tréaslú leis an Aire as ucht an moladh seo a chur chun cinn. An bhfuil aon socrú sa phlean a chuirfeadh ar chumas mhuintir an Tuaiscirt an chainéil nua seo d'fháil?

Is it intended to use the channel for other purposes during the day given that Teilifís na Gaeilge will be broadcasting for some time for three hours per day? I am mindful in particular of community television and it might be considered worthwhile broadcasting the Oireachtas live for those who would like to see it as it would improve the democratic deficit we have in this State.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta De Rossa as ucht a fháilte roimh Theilifís na Gaeilge. Bhí a pháirtí d'aon ghuth ina fháilte roimh an tseirbhís, rud nárbh fhíor i dtaobh gach páirtí. Tá sé ar intinn agam, an tseirbhís a chur ar fáil don oileán ar fad chomh fada agus is féidir liom. Bhí cainteanna agam cúpla seachtain ó shin leosiúd a bhfuil cúram cúrsaí craolacháin an Tuaiscirt orthu. Tá deacrachtaí teichniúla ann ach táimid tosnaithe orthu sin a shárú.

Bhí ceist ag an Teachta De Rossa faoin úsáid is féidir a bhaint as an chainéil nua. Of course, this new channel should be seen as an important contribution to the broadcasting infrastructure of the state. I accept the Deputy's suggestions. The new channel provides wonderful opportunities in so far as financial and other possibilities permit to use it for enhancing citizenship. I agree with the Deputy in that regard. The new channel may be used for the teaching of languages and for distance learning. It may be used also for educating people in regard to citizens' rights. It may be used also for broadcasting proceedings of the Oireachtas. All those potential uses will be considered by the new advisory group that will be established to handle the founding of the new channel. It provides an exciting contribution to the broadcasting infrastructure of the State.

A legitimate question on funding should not be seen as an attack on the Irish language. I want to see policies that support and encourage the development of the Irish language and ensure that more people will speak Irish fluently. I regret that policies in this area have failed in the past. Regarding funding, where will the remaining £11 million come from? I understand the idea of a levy or tax on videos may be contrary to European law. Has the Minister ruled out that possibility of funding?

When the Deputy reads the translation of my remarks she will see that I did not accuse her of being against the Irish language. I complimented Deputy De Rossa on the unequivocal and unanimous welcome for the new service given by his party. In relation to the funding, capital funding is explicitly referred to in the Programme for Government. It will come from the accumulated surpluses under the cap which was occasioned by section 3 of the Broadcasting Act, 1990. Regarding the running cost, it has been made clear that it will be covered by Exchequer funding. The Deputy asked a question in relation to raising funds from levies on videos. She did not refer to raising funds through the television licence fee. There is no one designated source of funding for Teilifís na Gaeilge. It will be funded by the Exchequer and, therefore, is open to my colleague, the Minister for Finance, to review all means of funding.

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