Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
369. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the monies allocated to the broadcasting and media funds each year since 2020 and estimated for 2024 identifying the amount of the Exchequer contributions to same, in tabular form. [6269/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 made provision for the establishment of the Broadcasting Fund, and for the allocation of 7% of net TV licence receipts to the fund. This funding is dispersed through the Sound and Vision Scheme, which supports high quality public service content on both television and radio, and the Archiving Scheme.
Overall TV licence revenues include both the receipts from sales of TV licences and the Exchequer contribution in respect of the free licences provided to recipients of Household Benefits Packages. In addition, under broadcasting legislation, the Minister may make additional Exchequer payments to the Broadcasting Fund
Total provision made to the Broadcasting Fund since 2020 is set out in the table below:
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Total |
€21.8m |
€22.8m |
€22.3m |
€19.5m |
The Exchequer contributions are set out below:
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Exchequer allocation in respect of free TV licences |
€4.886m |
€4.886m |
€4.886m |
€4.886m |
|
Additional Exchequer allocations made |
€6.9m |
€8m |
€7.5m |
€6m |
|
Total |
€11.786m |
€12.886m |
€12.386m |
€10.886m |
With regard to 2024, the total provision in the Revised Estimates for my Department in respect of the Broadcasting and Media Funds is €22.885m. While the actual amount that will be available is subject to the total TV licence revenues generated this year and therefore will not be known until year end, the Exchequer element of the allocation set out in the Revised Estimates amounts to €10.886m.
Since taking office, I have ensured that significantly increased supports have been made available to the broadcasting sector as a whole, securing an additional €28.4m in Exchequer funding to the Sound and Vision scheme. This additional funding has contributed to and enabled funding rounds including for content in the Irish language, live music, EDI and climate action.
