Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2023
112. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the efforts she has made in respect of funding for independent, regional and community radio stations; and if she will outline any future plans for funding for these important areas within media circles. [8571/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraNational, regional, local and community radio remains a vital element of the wider broadcasting and media landscape in Ireland. Local radio stations are the very essence of public service broadcasting and proved to be a lifeline for many, particularly in the height of COVID-19, providing critical local information and a vital sense of community when it was most needed.
Currently, support for the sector is provided through the Sound and Vision Scheme, which is supported by the Broadcasting Fund and administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
The Sound and Vision Scheme provides significant support to the broadcasting sector, and since taking office, I have allocated an additional €22.4m in Exchequer funding to the Scheme, of which €7.5m has been ring-fenced for independent commercial radio and €1.2 million for community radio. This includes €2.5m which I provided in December for a further round of Sound and Vision targeted at the commercial radio sector, which will be delivered through Coimisiún na Meán in the coming months. The sector continues to benefit also from general Sound and Vision funding rounds, and other targeted funding rounds for which I have provided additional funding, such as that for live music.
The Government has accepted the recommendation of the Future of Media Commission that the Broadcasting Fund be converted into a Media Fund to provide funding on a platform-neutral basis to the wider media sector. On foot of this, I secured €6m in Budget 2023 to support the Media Fund on an administrative basis, with the priority being the establishment of a Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and a Courts Reporting Scheme, both of which will support media at local, regional and national levels, including the radio sector. It is intended that these new schemes will be opened for applications this year.
Notwithstanding the additional supports which have been made available to date, I remain very conscious of the challenges facing the commercial radio sector in particular and accordingly, last December, I wrote to the BAI to ask them to prepare a report on the financial health of the sector. The purpose of the report will be to:
- provide an understanding of the dynamics of the current economic environment and its impact on the economic viability of the commercial radio sector in Ireland;
- examine any specific pressures identified in the context of underlying structural factors in the commercial radio sector, including ownership structures;
- inform deliberations on any possible short-term measures that could support the sector in 2023; and,
- inform deliberations by Coimisiún na Meán on the structure of the levy or levies on regulated services it is expected to introduce in 2024, in particular commercial radio broadcasters.
I look forward to receiving the report, due next month, and to examining its findings.
