Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2004
95 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount in the special fund for new, innovative and additional public service broadcasting; the amount of this fund spent to date; the way in which such moneys were spent; the further plans for using this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31232/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003 provides for the establishment of a fund to support certain television and radio productions and projects out of an amount of 5% of net receipts of television licence fees and in accordance with a scheme to be administered by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. The Act provides that 5% of the net proceeds from television licence fees be paid into the fund with effect from 1 January 2003. To date a total of €16.02 million has been paid into the fund. As a scheme to administer grants from the fund is not yet in place the BCI has issued no payments to date.
The legislation provides for the establishment of a scheme or schemes to provide funding in respect of new television or radio programmes on Irish culture, heritage and experience, improvements to adult literacy and the development of archiving of programme material produced in the State.
The BCI has completed a public consultation on a draft scheme on the operation of the fund. In accordance with section 2(1) of the Broadcasting Funding Act 2003, the BCI is required to submit the finalised scheme to me for approval following which I will lay the scheme before the Oireachtas.
I expect to receive a final version of the proposed scheme from the commission in the coming weeks. Any scheme put in place is likely to require State aid approval from the European Commission.
