I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.
The Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003 provides for the establishment of a fund from which grants may be paid by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to support certain television and radio programmes. The Act provides that 5% of the net proceeds of television licence fees will be paid into the fund with effect from 1 January 2003. Since that date 95% of the net proceeds of the television licence fees have been paid to RTÉ.
The BCI is at present preparing a scheme through which the fund may be accessed by broadcasters and content producers. I expect the BCI to submit a draft scheme to me for my approval in the next few weeks. It is likely that any scheme will require State aid approval from the European Commission. Once a scheme has been approved it will be a matter for the BCI to administer the scheme. Accordingly, issues relating to timing of applications and decision-making processes will be a matter for the BCI. The fund is open to RTÉ, TG4 and broadcasters licensed by the BCI.