Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 October 2004
142 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the total sum to date of the BCI innovation fund established under the Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003; the details of moneys spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24889/04]
View answer143 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of staff recruited to date to administer the BCI innovation fund; the number that will administer the fund when the schemes become operable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24890/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.
The Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003 provided for the establishment of a fund to support certain television and radio productions and projects out of an amount of 5% of net receipts of television licence fees and in accordance with a scheme to be administered by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. The Act provided that the 5% of the net proceeds from television licence fees would be paid into the fund with effect from 1 January 2003. To date €14.3 million has been paid into the fund.
The BCI has drawn up a draft scheme and recently completed a public consultation on that draft scheme. In accordance with section 2(1) of the Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003, the BCI must submit the finalised scheme to me for approval, following which I will lay the scheme before the Oireachtas. I expect to receive a proposed scheme from the BCI in the next few weeks. Any scheme is likely to require State aid approval from the European Union. The BCI has submitted a proposal to my Department on how the scheme should be administered, including a proposed staffing structure. My Department at present is examining this proposal.
