Vol. 568 No. 1
446 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if money from the television licence fee will be redirected into community broadcasting to support this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15567/03]
As part of the decision to increase the television licence fee last December the Government agreed that 5% of the net proceeds of the licence fee would go to a new fund for programmes on Irish culture and heritage and digital archiving. Community broadcasters will be eligible to apply for such funds in due course, once the necessary legislation has been enacted and the grant scheme finalised and published. It is not my intention to redirect any further moneys from television licence revenue other than the 5% to fund new programmes.
