Austin Deasy
Question:17 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the annual cost to the exchequer of subsiding TG4; if there are plans to increase this subvention; and, if so, the extent in this regard. [15334/00]
Other Questions. - Teilifís na Gaeilge.
The Estimates provision in respect of Teilifís na Gaeilge for this year is £14.029 million in current funding and £870,000 capital.
Deputies will be aware it is the intention that the station be established as a separate statutory entity and that the Broadcasting Bill, 1999, when enacted, will provide me with enabling powers to make the necessary arrangements. The station has recently produced a three year plan for an enhanced service in the context of its establishment as a separate entity. The plan envisages a substantial increase in its existing base level funding over a three year period. My Department is considering the plan at present.
We all appreciate the good work TG4 is doing. I am not a fluent Irish speaker but I find its programmes on GAA games, in particular, to be immensely helpful. We get to see matches we would have no hope of seeing otherwise. I am also a western fan and I like to watch the cowboy films it shows twice a week. Gregory Peck was on last Monday.
In Irish?
He assassinated three innocent men, although it was not the type of political assassination we are seeing in this House lately. He admitted to it.
Is there any possibility that TG4 will become self-financing? Is it getting any portion of the television and radio licence revenue and, if so, what proportion?
I will give the Deputy an idea of the funding that has been available since 1997, which was the station's first full year of broadcasting. The Department provided £10.2 million in current funding at that time, £11.6 million in 1998 and £14 million in 1999 by way of grant aid. A total of £1.3 million in capital funding has also been provided over that three year period.
TG4 came to see me to discuss its new three year programme, which is ambitious. It was interesting to note that it wants to be in a position at some stage to become a separate statutory entity. Some nervous remarks might have been made, not necessarily by the station but by commentators who would be well disposed towards TG4, when the Broadcasting Bill was first published. The nervousness concerned the question of the separation of TG4 from its parent, RTE. However, there is now a strong wish that the sep aration would take place, on foot of consultation and further funding. I am looking at this—
The Minister's time has concluded.
Could we have the information about the licence fee – does TG4 get any proportion of it?
Before the Minister replies, we will take a question from Deputy McGinley.
The Minister said the plan submitted by TG4 is being assessed in her Department at present. Can she give us an indication of when that assessment will be completed? Does she not agree that the comprehensive service provided by TG4 is being done on a shoestring of £14 million per year compared with SC4, which provides a similar service in Wales and receives £100 million sterling per year? TG4 is performing miracles on a nightly basis. If is allowed become a separate entity, what arrangements will be made to provide adequate funding? It is scandalous that it is dependent on the same level of funding it was getting three years ago when it was first established. I do not know how it is able to continue to provide such a level of service.
It is not depending on the same level of funding as it was in 1997. As I said in reply to Deputy Deasy, the funding increased to £14 million for 1999. I am the first to say that those in TG4 are doing tremendous work. They are mostly young people and they run a very tight ship. It is an example of how things should be done in many cases.
In regard to the question of funding, RTE is allocating one hour of programming a day to the Irish language. However, TG4 wants to broadcast six hours of quality Irish language programming a day, including the one hour of programming now on RTE. This increase in hours would mean that TG4 would have to commission and acquire new material, which will cost a great deal. I met with TG4 some weeks ago and I will consider and assess its proposal. I will have direct talks with the Minister for Finance and put forward the views expressed by TG4. I am prejudiced in this regard as I would like to help in any way I can because I recognise the work done by TG4.
I put down this question to find out what proportion of the licence fee TG4 is getting. What is the total licence fee paid to RTE by listeners and viewers and what proportion is TG4 getting?
I assume the Minister will not be able to answer this. I am concerned about the effectiveness of the teaching of Irish in second level schools. As a modern medium of communication, TG4 should be used to a greater extent in that context. Irish is taught for 8,000 hours per day by 3,500 teachers and the effectiveness of this must be queried. Will the Minister look at the impact of TG4 as a communicating method for teaching Irish?
That is the subject of another question.
I agree with Deputy Kenny that TG4 has an important role in educating not only the young but everyone in the Irish language. It is seen as a living language in that medium, which can incorporate young and old. I appreciated that fact before TG4 stressed it once again in its presentation. For the reasons outlined by Deputy Kenny, I would like to see how we can promote its case, which I will present to the Minister for Finance.
We will go with the Minister.
I think I can manage it on my own, but I thank the Deputy for his offer. Deputy Deasy raised funding. I said that RTE has assisted in this by allocating one hour of programming a day to the Irish language. I can send the information to the Deputy.
Surely TG4 should get a percentage of the licence fee.