Vol. 482 No. 8
218 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the proposals, if any, there were to grant RTE Cork the same broadcasting hours as their local counterparts to enable the station to compete on equal terms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19365/97]
The statutory position regarding broadcasting time on RTE services is that in accordance with section 19 of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960, amended by section 14(1) of the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1976, the total number of hours per year of broadcasting by the RTE Authority in providing its sound broadcasting service shall neither exceed a maximum nor be less than a minimum fixed by the Authority, with the approval of the Minister, for that service.
At present RTE Cork Local Radio is subject to a maximum of 2,009 hours per year and a minimum of 1,929 hours per year. The maximum was last increased on 30 June 1993 at the request of the RTE Authority. I have no request from the RTE Authority to increase the hours of broadcasting by RTE Cork Local Radio to the level of the services operated by Cork 96 FM/County Sound 103 FM. If the RTE Authority wishes to increase the maximum number of hours, it may request my approval under the legislation. If such a request is received I will, of course, consider it.
