The franchising function under the Radio and Television Act, 1988, is the prerogative of the Independent Radio and Television Commission. The Carlow-Kildare station was granted an extension of their original franchise area by the commission, following which they submitted proposals for potential locations (including Redgap), on which to site a transmitter.
The ministerial function of issuing a licence in respect of such services is essentially of a technical nature, under which a radio frequency and other technical parameters relating to transmitter characteristics are assigned to the commission for the benefit of the service being franchised.