Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment Mr. Ó Domhnaill on that. It is a scheme that has worked well in the United Kingdom, where the former media secretary introduced a similar scheme.

There are two issues. First, local newspapers might not be alive to be able to avail of it. When we introduced a 0% VAT rate on newspapers in last year’s budget, as the then Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, was on his feet announcing it, Independent Media owner, Mediahuis, announced the closure of theFingal Independent, which I worked for and waspart of theDrogheda Independentstable. When local papers have been here - Local Ireland – they said they cannot monetise the online space. It is a different animal from national media, which has also struggled to monetise. Newspapers are dying. You cannot find a shop around here to sell you a physical newspaper. The online space has been very difficult for them as well.

On the issue of the fund, John Purcell, chairman of Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, met with us last week. He is anxious about when that fund will be available. It would be important that it is available to access in the context of the local, European and national elections next year. He has been told it will not be available next year.