On foot of the Government’s response to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s Five Year Review of Public Service Broadcasting earlier this year, the Board of TG4 was requested, with the assistance of my Department and the Authority, to review its 5-year Strategic Plan on the basis of present revenue allocations. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Board continually strives to ensure that TG4’s Irish language services are delivered as efficiently as possible and, in addition, this current review aims to develop methodologies for identifying and quantifying TG4’s audience among Irish language speakers, as well as identifying means of bolstering that reach. The Government response also requires that my Department initiate a review by New Era assessing the scope for further efficiencies to be achieved in RTÉ in 2013 and beyond, including an examination of achievable efficiencies in its performing groups service model and the manner in which it delivers Irish language radio services. An initial Report from New Era is expected shortly.
I wish to assure the Deputy that both I, as Minister, and my Department are fully cognisant of the significant role both Raidió na Gaeltachta and TG4 have played in sustaining the Irish language.
