Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2020
43. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the supports her Department has made available for local radio since July 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36166/20]
View answerDuring 2020, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) held two closed rounds for radio, targeted at the independent commercial and community radio sectors respectively. In June 2020, the BAI awarded €2.5m Sound and Vision funding to 32 independent commercial radio stations across the country supporting public awareness and understanding of COVID-19. This was in addition to a waiver on the broadcasting levy for the independent radio sector for Q1 and Q2 2020 which saved the sector €1m. I secured €0.839m for BAI for 2021 to recoup the cost of the waiver.
In addition, the BAI distributed €750,000 during the summer in a special round for the community radio sector.
The purpose of the Sound and Vision Scheme is to support eligible content across the broadcasting sector as a whole, ensuring a balanced and fair approach. In light of the ongoing challenges faced by the sector, I secured an additional €2m in exchequer funding for the Sound and Vision Scheme under the July Stimulus Package. This greatly enhanced the funding available for the final round of the Scheme this year (round 37), bringing its total value to €4.5m.
This funding round is open to those elements of the radio sector that were not eligible for the rounds to commercial and community radio earlier in the year, namely independent audio producers and public service radio. In addition, the round is open to independent audiovisual producers, and commercial, community and public service television stations. The BAI are now evaluating the applications and will announce the awards to successful applicants in the coming weeks.
I am receiving quarterly reports from the BAI in relation to the financial impacts of COVID-19 on the sector. In addition, I met the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) which represents the independent commercial radio sector, earlier this week and have committed to engaging further with them and with the BAI to address the ongoing challenges in the sector.
