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Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2022

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Ceisteanna (194, 199, 206)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

194. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the allocation for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland independent productions fund in 2021 and 2022. [26528/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

199. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding allocation that was made to the Sound and Vision fund in each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. [26533/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

206. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the allocation that was made by the Exchequer to the Sound and Vision Fund in 2020, 2021 and 2022. [26540/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 194, 199 and 206 together.

The Sound and Vision Scheme supports the production of audiovisual and audio content for Irish audiences. The Broadcasting Act 2009 makes provision for the disbursement of 7% of the net TV licence fee receipts to the Broadcasting Fund operated by the BAI, which supports both the Sound and Vision (S&V) and Archiving Schemes. The Broadcasting Act 2009, also provides that the Minister may allocate additional Exchequer funding to the Sound and Vision Scheme. 2020 was the first year that Exchequer funding was allocated to the Scheme, which I allocated in recognition of impact of COVID-19 on the sector.

It should be noted that due to the timing of individual rounds of Sound and Vision, and the staging of payments by BAI to successful applicants, it is to be expected that there will be differences in the funding allocated to the Broadcasting Fund and the amount that the BAI disperses to grantees in any given year.

The amount allocated to the Broadcasting Fund in 2020 was €14.9m and in 2021 was €14.8m. Figures for 2022 are not yet available as the allocation will depend on the number of TV Licences sold this year.

Spend from the Sound and Vision Scheme, funded by both the licence fee and the Exchequer, for 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 are set out in the tables below.

Sound and Vision Scheme 2020 Awards

Funding Round

Date

Broadcasting Fund/Licence Fee

Target

Additional Exchequer Funding

Total

34

April 20

€7m

Open

--

€7m

35

June 20

€2.5m

Independent Commercial Radio

--

€2.5m

36

Dec 20

€0.67m

Community Radio

--

€0.67m

37

Dec 20

€2.58m

Open

€3

€5.58m

TOTAL

€12.75m

€3m

€15.75m

Sound and Vision Scheme 2021 Awards

Funding Round

Date

Broadcasting Fund/Licence Fee

Target

Additional Exchequer Funding

Total

38

May 21

€5.9m

Open and Live Music

€1.4m

€7.3m

39

Apr 21

€0.08m

Independent Commercial Radio

€2.5m

€2.58m

40

Nov 21

€5.95m

Open

--

€5.95m

41

Dec 21

€0.5m

Community Radio

--

€0.5m

TOTAL

€12.43m

€3.9m

€16.33m

Sound and Vision Scheme 2022 Awards (to date)

Funding Round

Date

Broadcasting Fund

Target

Additional Exchequer Funding

Total

42

March 22

€4.9m

Open Round

€1.5m

€6.4m

I secured Exchequer funding for the Scheme of €2m in the 2020 July stimulus and an additional €4.9m in December 2020, with €3.9m of the latter funding carried over into 2021. Of this additional funding, the BAI distributed €2.5m for the independent radio sector and €1.4m to support the live music sector.

I recently announced €10.5m in additional Exchequer funding to the Scheme, which will support programming on both radio and television. This additional funding has been allocated as follows:

- €1.5m extra for general Sound and Vision scheme projects (Round 42)

- €5m for climate change and climate action content production (Round 44);

- €2m for live music broadcasting productions (Round 45); and

- €2m for Irish language programming (Round 46).

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