The Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003 provides for the establishment of a fund from which grants may be paid by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, BCI, to support certain television and radio programmes. The Act provides that it is a matter for the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to draw up a scheme or schemes to finance programmes from the fund established by the Act.
The BCI is at present preparing a scheme which I expect will be submitted to me for my approval in the next few weeks. It is likely that any scheme will require State aid approval from the EU Commission. Once a scheme has been approved it will be a matter for the BCI to administer it. Accordingly, issues relating to timing of applications and decision-making processes will be a matter for the BCI.