The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has responsibility for business supports for the SME sector to support employment and the development of that sector, and I note that the Deputy has also directed his question to that Department. In addition, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications provides supports to businesses to get online in the form of the Online Trading Voucher Scheme, which has been supplemented by my Department through Údarás na Gaeltachta. Over €1m has been approved for 413 Gaeltacht businesses in the past few months through the Online Trading Voucher Scheme and the COVID-19 Business Continuity Vouchers Scheme, both administered by Údarás na Gaeltachta, along with a series of webinars to share appropriate expertise and an information hub on www.udaras.ie.
In relation to these supports, I was pleased to note the impact the Government horizontal supports are continuing to have on substantially reducing the cost base for the commercial radio sector during the restrictions. A total of €4.3m has been received across the industry from the Government’s COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Support Scheme. Local radio has also been included in the Government’s current advertising campaign on resilience.
I acknowledge the valuable role that media plays in countering disinformation, particularly in respect of COVID-19. Local radio plays a particularly important role in bringing communities together, strengthening their bonds of solidarity and mutual support. I recognise the challenges faced by this sector due to COVID-19 and was pleased that a range of supports were delivered to the sector this year.
During 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 €839,000 in Budget 2021 to recoup the BAI for this levy waiver.
In addition, the BAI distributed €750,000 this year 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 audio-visual producers, and commercial, community and public service television stations. I will continue to work closely with the BAI to see how we can best support the sector in the coming period.
