Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, and I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for choosing this topical issue, which I first submitted on 30 September. It has taken a while. It was deferred from last week. We all are aware what happened yesterday.

Connemara Community Radio is a community based and run radio station broadcasting for ten hours a day, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It has two full-time administration staff and up to 90 volunteers to service its programmes. They started broadcasting on 1 July 1995. It has a franchised area of 11,500 people in Ireland. As it is a big tourism area the listenership increases during the summer. Perhaps more importantly, it has a significant Internet following because of immigration and they are able to monitor where those are listening in. They listen from America, Australia and the United Kingdom. They are able to see exactly when the peak listenership is, which is at local news time. It is interesting what they can do. They run an important local service.

Connemara Local Radio has had various funding streams over the years. Latterly, it has been funded through the local and community development programme, LCDP, where it got a contract, from 2010 to 2015, with the funding ending at the end of this year. There is growing concern within the community that this important local resource would run out of funding and they have been pursuing a number of suggestions in that regard. They have the full backing of the local community in terms of ensuring they continue with their programming. They cover local news and spread it through the different parishes in the Connemara area, from Ballyconneely to Roundstone, Cashel, Letterfrack and Renvyle, and they have a broadcast studio in Inishbofen.

They also give valuable service to young persons who are interested in learning about media and broadcasting. As a local politician, I have been interviewed on many occasions by young enthusiastic and energetic persons who were learning their trade and putting politicians under pressure, as they should do. Most importantly, as I said, it is providing that local service link.

The LCDP delivered innovated responses to social inclusion issues. With the additional support of community development programme resources, it was best placed to respond to the local needs of the community. Efficient strategies were put in place to increase social inclusion and reduce consistent poverty in the locality. The programme has delivered and this community resource has been successful since 1995.

The station has been pursuing other sources of funding. It attempted to apply for funding under the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, in the Department for Social Protection but that was not successful. I understand that recently it applied under the community services programme of the Department, through Pobal, which covers a number of different Departments. In her role as the Minister of State for with responsibility for rural affairs, Deputy Ann Phelan, would cover many Departments as well.

I understand that the station has applied under the community services programme and is receiving positive vibes in this regard.

A relatively small amount of funding is provided. Initially the amount provided was €139,000, but due to cutbacks the funding was reduced to €89,000. An excellent service was provided for such a small amount of money. Two full-time staff are employed, nine part-time staff that are on community employment, CE, and Tús schemes and 90 volunteers. It goes to show the importance of the service in the community that so many people are prepared to volunteer to keep the show on the road. A local radio station is a great resource and people want to keep it open. I hope that through a combination of the efforts of various Departments and agencies a package will be put together to keep Connemara Community Radio on air after 1 January 2015.

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