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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

Questions (224, 228)

Seán Canney

Question:

224. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will put in place a Covid funding scheme for local newspapers similar to the scheme for local radio stations administered by the Broadcast Authority of Ireland sound and vision scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8437/21]

View answer

Alan Dillon

Question:

228. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to introduce funding supports for local newspapers; if further supports will be granted to local radio stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8532/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 228 together.

A strong and independent media sector is central to our parliamentary democracy, freedom of speech and to the provision of quality and impartial information, particularly in the context of COVID-19. I recognise the essential role that the print media plays in this regard and the particular value of local and regional newspapers in bringing communities together and sharing reliable and relevant local news. The production and publication of newspapers, journals and periodicals and the distribution of those publications has been listed as an essential service.

The sector faces a fall in revenue arising from the pandemic, but also longer term challenges as a result of changing patterns of media consumption, technology and shifts in advertising revenue.

As the Deputy will appreciate it is of particular importance in relation to media organisations to avoid any perception of Government interference or influence and the funding of newspapers is therefore a complex issue. I am however cognisant of the importance of this sector, and the financial issues which it currently faces.

Since I assumed formal responsibility for the media sector in September 2020, I have engaged in meeting key stakeholders including Newsbrands, Local Ireland and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). Work is continuing to explore the issues arising, with a follow up meeting between my officials and the NUJ taking place on 3rd February and a further meeting with Local Ireland has been scheduled for Wednesday 17 February. In addition, the Government has put in place a range of supports for all businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which are available to local newspapers.

Funding for local radio stations is provided through the Sound and Vision Scheme. This is a statutory scheme provided for under Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and largely funded by the television licence. It is limited by statute to audiovisual and sound media and is administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. There is no equivalent statutory scheme for the print sector and the BAI has no function in funding the print sector. On 27 January 2021 the BAI announced another €6.9m in supports which included €1.4m allocated by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to the BAI Broadcasting Fund in December 2020 for live music projects. This will assist in providing a platform for music industry professionals who would have predominately worked in the live music sector which has been severely impacted by Covid-19. It will allow for projects that will help musicians to connect with audiences through Television and Radio. A further round of €2.5m was announced recently for the independent radio sector and further rounds will follow later in year and the BAI will announce these as they arise. This funding is on top of the supports already put in place in 2020. Further information is available at: https://www.bai.ie/en/broadcasting/funding-development-3/sound-vision-4/

In recognition of these longer term challenges facing the sector, the Programme for Government provided for the establishment of the Future of Media Commission to consider the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion. The Commission, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, recently concluded a public consultation to which a number of stakeholders in the print sector have made submissions. The Commission is currently in the process of engaging with key stakeholders in a series of thematic dialogues. I look forward to receiving the Commission's Report on the completion of its work which will inform media policy, including print media, over the next 10 years.

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