Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004
318 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the total sum of money in the broadcasting fund administered by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland; the areas in which those moneys are invested; and the total spent to date on administering the Fund. [20012/04]
View answer319 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the dates on which schemes for funding of programming under the broadcasting fund will be established; and the nature of the commissioning process by which it will be decided the programming that will be funded. [20013/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 319 together.
To date €12.2 million has been paid to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) in respect of the new broadcasting fund. The Broadcasting Funding Act 2003 provides that it is a matter for the BCI to draw up a scheme or schemes which will set down the manner in which the fund may be used. I understand that the BCI intend publishing a draft scheme in the near future and inviting comments from interested parties.
The 2003 Act also provides that the administration costs associated with schemes may be met from the fund. It will be a matter for the BCI, which is an independent statutory body, to report in due course on the use of the fund.
