Written Answers Nos. 779-803
779. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if additional resources will be provided to the Environmental Protection Agency in order to enable it to efficiently process applications it has on hand and continues to receive in respect of end of waste applications. [10527/20]
View answerIn line with Section 29 of the Environment Protection Agency Act, 1992, as amended, it is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency to determine the appropriate deployment of their approved human resources allocation. I therefore have no function in the matter.
780. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason a property (details supplied) cannot connect to e-fibre broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10557/20]
View answerThe specific premises referred to in the Question is located in the AMBER area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.
I understand that this premises is very close to premises that are passed by eir’s fibre network. eir’s rural deployment of high speed broadband is a commercial undertaking and as such, decisions regarding the areas and premises served are made by eir. My Department had no role in the matter and has no statutory authority to intervene in decisions of commercial operators, as to where they build infrastructure and provide services.
Throughout rural Ireland, eir’s fibre deployment is primarily focussed on towns and villages and the premises on their outskirts. Where that network ends is where the National Broadband Plan in effect commences to ensure that nobody is left behind. I appreciate the frustration of the Deputy’s constituents, when they are living so close to a fibre network, but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this commenced earlier this year. Up to date information on deployment activities is available on NBI’s website www.nbi.ie
781. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband will be made available to an area (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10572/20]
View answer787. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the provision of fibre broadband to a property (details supplied). [10698/20]
View answer797. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the national broadband plan; if a contract has been signed; the timeline for connection for specific areas in counties Sligo and Leitrim (details supplied) in which there is currently poor coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11283/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 781, 787 and 797 together.
The Government is committed to delivering high speed broadband to every home, farm, business and school in the country.
The Questions refer to premises which are located in the AMBER area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).
All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years. The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed.
Work has already begun and up to date information on deployment activities is now available on NBI’s website www.nbi.ie. There is a dedicated email address reps@nbi.ie with any specific queries you may have in relation to premises located in the AMBER area.
To support remote working and connected communities, approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs) were identified by Local Authorities to be connected to high speed broadband this year. This will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main NBP deployment. The planned BCP locations, including schools, library hubs, local sports facilities and other public places are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map on the Department’s website www.broadband.gov.ie. The BCP delivery project is well underway and surveying of the BCP locations is progressing which will facilitate detailed design and installation. BCP locations are subject to change and a number of the premises initially identified are in the process of being replaced with alternative locations. The remaining BCPs remain on track for delivery by the end of 2020.
The BCPs in identified public places will leverage the high speed broadband connection through a range of measures and initiatives, for example providing free public Wi-Fi, some will also have hot-desks, and some will be digital hub business centres where digital training, business information events and other SME supports are organised.
782. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Commission on the Future of Irish Public Service Broadcasting met in May 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10656/20]
View answerIn December 2019, the Government agreed that a Commission on the Future of Irish Public Service Broadcasting would be established by the Department of the Taoiseach.
Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, was appointed as Chair of the Commission earlier this year. However, as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the appointment of further members to the Commission has not yet been finalised by the Department of the Taoiseach and no meetings have taken place.
783. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on plans to act on the recommendations of the most recent report of the Just Transition Commissioner. [10657/20]
View answer784. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the €6 million allocated for just transition in 2020 has been spent to date; if not, when it is planned to be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10658/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 783 and 784 together.
I published the progress report of the Just Transition Commissioner, Mr Kieran Mulvey, together with an initial response of the Government to the Commissioner’s report and progress update on relevant measures, on Friday 22 May.
The Commissioner’s report reflects a comprehensive engagement with relevant stakeholders in the region, including local community organisations, Bord na Móna, ESB, the Midlands Transition Team, Local Authorities, public representatives, and relevant trade unions and workers' representatives. The report sets out the Commissioner’s analysis of the challenges facing the Midlands region, and for Bord na Móna workers and their families and communities, arising from an accelerated exit from peat harvesting. The report also contains important recommendations. The Government is already acting on a number of these and is committed to preparing a detailed implementation plan to address the remainder. A copy of the report and Government's initial response is available on my Department's website at dccae.gov.ie
The Government has committed significant resources in 2020, through allocating a portion of the additional carbon tax revenue to be raised on foot of Budget 2020, to measures to support the delivery of an effective just transition for the Midlands. This includes €20 million for a new energy efficiency retrofitting scheme to be focused on the Midlands, €5 million for peatland rehabilitation outside of the Bord na Móna estate and €6 million for a dedicated new just transition fund with ESB agreeing to contribute an additional €5 million to this fund.
The Government has also committed to examining measures to support a much higher level of bog restoration on Bord na Móna bogs and to provide for a continued role for existing Bord na Móna workers on these bogs.
In relation to the Just Transition Fund, I have now launched a first call for proposals for funding. Stage 1 of accessing the Just Transition Fund is to register your project with the Midlands Regional Transition Team and START (Secretariat Technical Assistance to Regions in Transition) on www.midlandsireland.ie. In Stage 2, which I expect to launch in the coming days, my Department will publish a detailed, competitive, evaluation process for projects that have applied under Stage 1. Projects that successfully complete this stage will be invited to enter into a funding agreement with my Department with a view to initial disbursement of funding to projects as soon as possible.
I have previously set out five key priorities for this fund as follows:
- retraining and reskilling workers to assist local communities and businesses in the Midlands to adjust to the low carbon transition;
- proactive communications with affected communities and other stakeholders in the region and between local communities and the relevant national institutions;
- best practice sharing networks and frameworks;
- the early development of local transition plans, with local communities at the core of plan development, based on economic analysis and local scoping of transition impacts and the opportunities it presents, acknowledging that the needs of individual areas across the Midlands will differ; and
- innovation and investment proposals to generate sustainable employment in green enterprise that do not come within the ambit of the four Project Ireland 2040 Funds, or the State’s other investment programmes.
785. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the work to date in 2020 of the retrofit task force. [10660/20]
View answerThe Government’s Climate Action Plan has set an ambitious target to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 (or cost optimal equivalent), and to install 400,000 heat pumps to replace existing heating systems by 2030. A new area based approach to retrofitting is being developed, with homes being grouped together to reduce cost. Work is also underway on the development of smart financing and easy pay back mechanisms. Achievement of these targets will be supported by the financial allocation under Project Ireland 2040 of EUR 3.7 billion, and a range of other measures identified in the Climate Action Plan.
A cross-Departmental Retrofit Taskforce has been established to develop a new retrofit delivery model capable of achieving the targets mentioned above. In 2020, the Retrofit Taskforce and its two technical subgroups have met on a number of occasions and have been working to formulate the new model. This process has been informed by a consultation with stakeholders and a thorough analysis of international experience with similar programmes. The model is designed to address barriers to energy efficiency investments in four key areas: customer proposition and demand generation, financing and affordability, supplier capacity, and delivery structure. The Taskforce is also working to determine the estimated cost of achieving our retrofit targets as well as considering the role that retrofit could play in future economic recovery efforts.
The Retrofit Taskforce report is to be published in Q3 2020, in line with the Climate Action Plan commitment.
786. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the introduction of an annual grant for persons with lifelong and-or long-term medical incontinence that will help persons meet the average annual cost of disposal of incontinence products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10684/20]
View answerMy Department has been examining this issue in detail and has engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representative organisations and the HSE, in an effort to see how best to provide a financial support to persons with long-term incontinence with respect to the disposal of medical incontinence wear. However, there are complex issues at play in this area, which are understandable given the sensitive nature of the medical data in question.
Since mid-2017, a range of charging options have operated, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. This provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. Mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging was not introduced. A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established in mid-2017 to monitor the on-going cost of residential waste collection to homeowners across Ireland as the ‘flat-rate structure’ was being phased out. While fluctuations in prices and service offerings have been observed, the overall trend has been relative price stability. Results from the PMG are available on my Department's website.
788. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if funding will be ring-fenced to support local newspapers at this difficult time in view of the sound and vision funding announced for local radio. [10774/20]
View answerI have no statutory function in relation to newspapers other than in relation to media mergers.
Funding under the Sound and Vision Scheme is restricted under the Broadcasting Act 2009 to broadcast media and is funded by TV licence receipts.
789. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the salmon stock levels on the rivers Owenea and Owentocker, County Donegal; the conservation limits of salmon on the rivers; the redd counts and electrofishing surveys conducted; the effect this information has on projecting stock levels on the rivers; if his Department and Inland Fisheries Ireland will consider opening the fishery with an optional harvest surplus in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10809/20]
View answerManagement of salmon stocks in Ireland for compliance with the EU habitats Directive and principles of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) is undertaken by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) supported by the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS), which includes scientists from a range of organisations. Scientific and management assessments are carried out annually.
The primary index for evaluation by TEGOS of likely returning numbers is the recorded rod (harvest or catch and release) and commercial catch (if any) averaged out over the previous 5 years.
Rivers are only open to harvest where it has been confirmed that the individual river is sufficiently exceeding its conservation limit so that there is harvestable surplus available. The conservation limit for each river is the number of adult spawning fish required to maintain a healthy population and ensure its stock does not drop below safe biological limits.
The TEGOS 2020 recommendation for the rivers Owenea and Owentocker is that they are meeting but not sufficiently exceeding the conservation limit.
The current catch and release designation still facilitates angling and the situation on the rivers will be reviewed again this year. If, in future years, a sufficient surplus is predicted it may be possible to open the fishery to catch and retain for both the commercial and rod and line fisheries.
I am advised that electrofishing surveys on both rivers produced an average salmon fry density level to support the current catch and release angling status as also supported by the primary index data used in annual assessments. However, such indicative abundances are not used to support a designation of catch and retain status.
790. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will request Inland Fisheries Ireland to direct its staff to contact representatives from angling organisations, local angling clubs and commercial fishers regarding the importance of submitting salmon and sea trout log books prior to the final deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10810/20]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) issues salmon and sea trout licences online and in hard copy directly and through authorised third party distributors. The regulations pertaining to licences are set by Statutory Instrument (SI) annually. The SI provides detail of licences, logs books, tags, returns and the closing date for receipt of returns and the obligation of the licence holder to return their logbook.
Each licence, irrespective of method of purchase, is accompanied by information on salmon and sea trout quota, catch, recording of catch and logbook returns. A prepaid return envelope is provided with the license pack to enable return of the logbook and unused tags. All commercial logs books are also returned annually.
IFI already issues regular reminders during the angling season across all of its communication channels. The reminders include communications to angling federations, traditional media, and social media. Reminders are also included in IFI’s weekly angling ezine, websites and blogs.
792. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason the Weir and the High Bank Beat fisheries in Galway city remain closed when all other fisheries are open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10923/20]
View answerI am happy to confirm that the Galway fishery has reopened on a pilot basis.
The Deputy will appreciate that a small number of fisheries, including the High Bank Beat in Galway, remained closed when the angling guidelines were updated with effect from 6 May, as they presented a significant challenge in terms of appropriate social distancing in line with NPHET advice.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have, however, been proactive in this regard and had made proposals for the re-opening of these fisheries, including Galway, based on protocols ensuring consistency with the Government's Roadmap for the Reopening of Society and Business, NPHET advice and National measures in relation to Covid-19. My Department and IFI has recently received the appropriate advice to support reopening of these fisheries
I have already provided to the Deputy full details of the protocols which apply to these fisheries. Matters will be reviewed further on 29 June.
793. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a newspaper (details supplied) and other similar freesheet newspapers will be financially supported during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11010/20]
View answerI have no statutory function in relation to newspapers other than in relation to media mergers.
Funding under the Sound and Vision Scheme is restricted under the Broadcasting Act 2009 to broadcast media and is funded by TV licence receipts.
794. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a person (details supplied) will receive good quality broadband. [11121/20]
View answer795. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a person (details supplied) will receive good quality broadband. [11122/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 794 and 795 together.
The premises referred to are both located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at http://www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
There may be a choice of operators offering this service in the area referred to and further information in this regard is available at www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services.
Complaints about service provision are a matter between the consumer and the service provider in the first instance. If this avenue has been exhausted without a satisfactory resolution, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) may be able to assist further. ComReg is the independent body that issues licences to broadband service providers and investigates complaints to make sure that companies are delivering services in line with their licence obligations.
796. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the warmer homes scheme; if homes can currently be considered for a second visit in circumstances in which it is feasible and appropriate such as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11194/20]
View answerThe Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date over 140,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. The Warmer Homes Scheme budget allocation for 2020 is €52.8 million - a record level of funding for this scheme.
Individual applications to the Warmer Homes Scheme are an operational matter for the SEAI and as Minister I have no role in such matters. However in reference to the case raised by the Deputy, officials in my Department have been in contact with the SEAI and I have been informed that in July 2018 the homeowner received energy efficiency upgrade work including attic insulation, roof ventilation, non-mechanical wall vents, cavity wall insulation, a gas fired boiler system, radiators and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), along with draught proofing and energy CLF bulbs fitted.
The aim of the scheme is to deliver efficiency measures in a way which represents the best possible use of Exchequer funding. The rules of the Scheme stipulate that repeat upgrade visits are not provided. This rule is in place to ensure that the available Exchequer funding provides upgrades to as many eligible homes as possible and to prioritise eligible homes that have never had any work completed under the scheme.
The Climate Action Plan includes a commitment to review ways to improve how current energy poverty schemes target those most in need. Recommendations on issues including repeat upgrade visits and how to best target those in need will be made shortly.
798. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated full year cost of recruiting five additional cyber security developers or analysts for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11327/20]
View answerThe estimated yearly cost for filling five Cyber Security Developer/Analyst positions in my Department would be in the order of €330,000.
799. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter relating to a request (details supplied) for accelerated procurement and funding to support fast-tracking the north-south interconnector in the absence of planning approvals in May 2015; his views on whether the action is appropriate; and his further views on whether this undermines the credibility of the planning process. [11328/20]
View answerThe North South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the Single Electricity Market and increasing security of electricity supply across the island of Ireland. It will also help us to move towards 70% renewable electricity by 2030. A resilient and well connected energy infrastructure is vital for Ireland’s economic well-being and the ability to respond to the future needs of energy consumers.
EirGrid is the designated Transmission System Operator and its role includes the operation, maintenance and development of the electricity transmission network in Ireland. The construction of the North South Interconnector, and all related procurement activities, is an operational matter for EirGrid and ESB Networks and one in which I have no function.
In June 2019, ESB Networks awarded a framework contract for the design, test and supply of steelwork in relation to the project. Under this framework there will be no supply of materials and no critical procurement process for construction will be concluded until the planning process in Northern Ireland is complete.
800. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the projected roll-out of the national broadband plan in 2020 in County Monaghan; the areas that will benefit from the development; if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need to have the broadband infrastructure upgraded in many parts of County Monaghan due to increased demand for proper connectivity for households, businesses, community and public facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11360/20]
View answerThe High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows the areas in Monaghan which will be included in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led intervention as well as areas targeted by commercial operators. The Map is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode.
- Premises in the AMBER area will be provided with high speed broadband through the State led Intervention, the contract for which was signed in November last with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).
- The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE area represents eir's commercial rural deployment plans to rollout high speed broadband to 300,000 premises, including Monaghan, as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017.
|
County |
AMBER Premises within the NBP State Intervention Area |
BLUE Premises within Commercial Operator’s Area |
LIGHT BLUE Premises within eir's commercial rural deployment |
|
MONAGHAN |
46% (15,125) |
54% (17,983) |
<1% (76) |
The NBP network will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 150Mbps from the outset. By the end of next year, NBI plans to pass in the region of 115,000 premises, with 70,000 - 100,000 passed each year thereafter until rollout is completed. All counties will see premises passed in the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State will have access to high speed broadband within the next four years. My Department continues to engage with NBI to explore the feasibility of accelerating aspects of this rollout.
Further information on deployment activities associated with the rollout can be found on the NBI website http://www.nbi.ie.
To support remote working and connected communities, approximately 300 Broadband Connections Points (BCPs) were identified by Local Authorities to be connected to high speed broadband this year. This will assist communities to quickly get free public access to high speed broadband in advance of the main NBP deployment. The BCP delivery project is well underway and surveying of the BCP locations is progressing which will facilitate detailed design and installation. BCP locations are subject to change and a number of the premises initially identified are in the process of being replaced with alternative locations. The remaining BCPs remain on track for delivery by the end of 2020.
There are 11 BCP's planned at present for Co. Monaghan. Proposed BCP locations including schools, library hubs, local sports facilities and other public places are available to view on the High Speed Broadband Map (www.broadband.gov.ie). The BCPs in identified public places will leverage the high speed broadband connection through a range of measures and initiatives, for example providing free public Wi-Fi, some will also have hot-desks, and some will be digital hub business centres where digital training, business information events and other SME supports are organised.
801. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken to reduce the number of single use wipes ending up in waters; the analysis undertaken by his Department or other agency of the problem in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11427/20]
View answerThe government strongly supported the introduction of Directive (EU) 2019/904 of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the Environment, commonly referred to as the Single Use Plastics Directive. The aim of this Directive is to tackle the items which together make up 70% of the marine litter found on EU beaches and it introduces measures to tackle a range of single use plastics, including wet wipes.
By December 2024 an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme will apply to the production and placing on the market of wet wipes whereby it will be mandatory for producers to fund the costs associated with awareness raising, litter clean up and management of that litter as well as the costs of data gathering and reporting for these products.
In addition, from 3 July 2021, wet wipes packaging will be required to contain clear and standardised labelling which indicates how the products should be disposed of, the potential negative environmental impact of the product, and the presence of plastics in the product.
I will also be considering further measures for dealing with all single use plastic items, including wet wipes, in the context of our national Waste Action Plan in a Circular Economy.
The monitoring of these items on our water treatment systems, our beaches and marine environment is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.
802. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that salmon licence and permit distributors did not receive an increase in rate for the distribution of licences and permits despite Inland Fisheries Ireland increasing the fee for conservation purposes; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that with the continued growth in the number of persons opting for card payment, the licence and permit distributor percentage rate is further decreased as a result of charges associated with card machines; his plans to compensate distributors for this loss in earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11472/20]
View answerThere has been no increase in the salmon rod licence duty which has remained unchanged since 2012. The rod licence duty comprises a conservation element (introduced in 2007) which is 50% of the total duty and is ring-fenced for salmon and sea trout conservation works and a further 50% which is the licence payment in respect of which Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) pay commission at a rate of 10%.
Permit fees have fluctuated slightly over the period but the percentage commission has been maintained at 5%. Therefore as prices fluctuate the commission percentage paid remains the same.
The decision to offer credit and debit card payment facilities to customers is a matter for each business owner. Rates are a matter for the financial institutions.
803. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he plans to take to support the independent radio and audio producers sector; the reason for excluding the sector from round 36 funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11637/20]
View answerIt is vital that the Irish public have a readily available, reliable source of information on COVID 19 and the measures being put in place to tackle the crisis, and the radio sector has played a valuable role in this regard.
At my request, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) agreed to waive levy payments for the independent radio sector in quarters 1 and 2 2020, which will save the sector €1m. This waiver covers all independent radio stations at national, regional and local level.
The BAI also agreed to my request that they put in place a Covid 19 funding round (Round 35) under the Sound and Vision Scheme of €2.5m for commercial radio stations. The BAI received a total of 32 applications from independent commercial radio stations across the country. The applications were evaluated according to the COVID-19 Fund assessment criteria, and all 32 applications are being allocated funding.
The BAI will operate a round specifically for community radio stations of €750,000 over the summer months (Round 36), and later this year, a separate round 37 for the commercial and community television broadcasters and public service broadcasters, including RTÉ radio services.
The primary focus of these efforts has been to support broadcasting stations, so that they can produce or commission content for the benefit of their audience and the independent production sector. In addition, I understand that independent radio and audio producers will be eligible to apply for round 37. Details of this round will be announced by the BAI in due course.
