Vol. 560 No. 1
120 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he intends to insist on 100% of licence fee money being spent on programme making within RTE to provide a high quantity of service and value for money to the public. [27060/02]
As the Deputy is aware, RTE is dual funded, receiving moneys from the proceeds of the television licence fee and commercial revenue. As the national public service broadcaster, RTE is mandated to provide a comprehensive range of programmes on radio and television that reflect the cultural diversity of the whole island of Ireland and that entertain, inform and educate. This mandate includes the provision of a programming schedule that will cater for the expectations of the community generally as well as members of the community with special or minority interests.
The purpose of the licence fee increase was to ensure that RTE had the necessary resources to fulfil its statutory mandate. It was accepted there was a strong case for improving the quality of RTE's programme schedules with more home-produced programming in peak time in particular. RTE's application for a licence fee increase of €43 was based on an assumption that this would generate additional income of €50 million of which €32 million would go directly to additional programming.
Through the implementation of its change management programme, RTE is committed to achieving efficiencies so that the benefit to the licence fee payer from the substantial public funds provided to RTE is maximised.
An integral part of the Government decision to increase the licence fee was that 5% of the net proceeds of the television licence fee, approximately €7 to €7.50, would be ring-fenced as a special broadcasting fund to encourage new, innovative and additional public service broadcasting. The remaining €35.50 will go to RTE. This is a significant increase for RTE and is accompanied by a package of reforms to ensure that the paying public get good value for their money. The decision to establish the special fund was an integral part of the comprehensive programme of measures that I announced last December to bring about a fundamental reform of public service broadcasting in Ireland. The special fund will result in enhanced public service programming on a nationwide basis over and above that provided by RTE, which will be in receipt of increased funding, and over and above that already provided by other broadcasters.
It is my intention that the scheme will be administered by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland in the first instance and ultimately by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. I will bring forward shortly more detailed proposals in connection with the establishment and operation of the fund.
People will expect to see something in return when they pay increased television licence fees. This question was tabled in the hope of discovering whether the money will be invested in Irish programme making. On what sort of programme does the Minister envisage the licence fee money will be spent? Will it be spent on Irish soaps or other programmes?
There will be an increase in home produced programmes. The Irish people want an Irish broadcaster that produces programmes here, to help to keep jobs here and to support our culture and traditions. It is not desirable to have outside broadcasters always pushing programmes that are produced abroad. If we do not pay for an indigenous service, we will have to do without it. The Government took a strategic and courageous decision to give what is, in effect, a substantial licence fee increase to RTE. I assure the Deputy and the House that my Department will continue its detailed discussions with RTE and will ensure that the commitments made by RTE will be delivered.
When RTE management and trade unions attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, it was striking that trade unions made the point that RTE's regional structures have been grossly run down. It is inappropriate that the committee is sitting at the same time as questions are being asked of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in the House, given that Deputies do not have the gift of bi-location. Is the Minister concerned about the regional aspects of RTE's service, for example in his territory in the north-east? Despite the fact that there are a few remarkably good regional correspondents, some of whom are justly famous, I do not get the feeling that RTE is sufficiently responsive to regional needs.
Deputies are probably aware that the local authority of which I am a member had to conduct some important business in recent weeks. I found that my colleagues on Dublin City Council and I had to educate certain journalists, including some from RTE, about some basic facts relating to the operation of local government in Dublin. The Minister is aware that RTE does not have a Dublin correspondent and I believe there should be correspondents in all other areas, including Cork, Louth and Wexford.
Has the Minister any strong views about RTE's coverage of politics, especially the attention it pays to this House? Does he have any ideas about how television coverage of the House could be enhanced? I appreciate that the Oireachtas needs to make changes so that it can be televised and the new Oireachtas commission should take action in that regard. I hope this debate on broadcasting will be covered on "Oireachtas Report" tonight and that it will not seem as if we are in a wooden atmosphere.
It will be on at 12 o'clock tonight.
That it is on so late is not good, as my party leader has stated on many occasions.
The Deputy's time is up.
The Minister knows the point I am trying to make.
I call the Minister for a brief reply.
Can we make this House more exciting on television and radio? Has the Minister held any discussions with RTE management in that regard? The programmes on BBC2 from 10.30 p.m. each night provide vivid coverage of the proceedings in Westminster and I wonder why we cannot have the same.
The Government does not want RTE to show the House because it does not want the people to hear the lies it tells.
Perhaps we would be more entertaining if we argued in the Chamber more often. I assure Deputies Broughan and Kehoe that the issues they have raised were very much to the fore during my discussions with RTE in recent months. I assume the Deputies did not see the advertisements placed by RTE in newspapers late last week – the station is recruiting a north-east correspondent, which I welcome.
I am glad to hear it.
Deputy Broughan will also be glad to hear that it is intended to hire a Dublin correspondent.
What about Wexford?
RTE has a fine south-east correspondent.
Can the Minister name him?
The problem in the north-east used to be that matters in that region were covered by reporters and cameras from Belfast. I do not think the areas represented by Deputies Broughan and Kehoe have had to tolerate such a situation. I understand, as part of the commitment made by RTE when the licence fee increase was being discussed, that the station will increase its coverage of the proceedings of this House. I may be incorrect, but I understand that Leaders' Questions will be televised live today. I am not involved in the day-to-day running of RTE, but I am sure certain commitments have been made. The expansion of its service in the areas I have mentioned is an immediate priority – RTE has admitted that its regional coverage can have certain deficiencies. The station intends to appoint an education correspondent and a science correspondent, which is important, and it plans to expand its foreign operations.
Is the Minister aware—
I must call time on this question.
I am glad to be the purveyor of good news.
May I ask a brief supplementary question?
We must move on to Question No. 121.
Deputy Broughan should not claim credit for the good news.
