Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013
438. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of State aid granted to community radio and television stations for the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and the amounts granted in supports for each individual station. [50506/13]
View answer439. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department collects statistics on the listening and viewing figures for community radio and television stations; and if his Department has figures of the total number of persons employed in the sector. [50507/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 439 together.
One of the objectives of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), as provided under the Broadcasting Act 2009, is to stimulate the provision of high quality, diverse and innovative programming by commercial, community and public service broadcasters and independent producers. In line with this objective, the BAI is assigned responsibility under Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 for the development, management and administration of the Broadcasting Funding Scheme.
In accordance with the legislative provisions, the Scheme aims, inter alia, to develop local and community broadcasting. In operating the Scheme, the BAI introduces date-specific funding rounds for radio and television on an annual basis, the results of which are subsequently published on the BAI website. All information relating to amounts allocated to radio and television, including community based stations, is a matter for the BAI.
The BAI is also responsible for the licensing of independent radio broadcasting services in Ireland, including the licensing of community broadcasters and has the statutory oversight role in that regard. In light of this, I have forwarded the Deputy’s questions to the BAI and asked that they respond directly to him in regard to the information being sought.
