Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2019
776. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the work of the working group on future funding of public service broadcasting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31296/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn light of the recommendations in the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment on the Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting, a Working Group was set up on foot of a Government decision last year to examine options for the reform of TV licence collection. I intend to bring the Report of the Working Group to government shortly. Additional funding was secured for public service broadcasting in Budget 2019. TG4 will receive €36.2m Exchequer funding this year, comprising a combination of €34.2m current and €2m capital, which is an increase of €443,000 compared to 2018. Additional funding of €9.245m is being provided to RTE and the Broadcasting Fund, of which RTE will receive approximately €8.6m in 2019. The Broadcasting Fund, administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and financed from 7% of net licence fee receipts, supports the Sound and Vision and Archiving Schemes and benefits the broadcasting sector as a whole.
