Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend this motion to the House. It is long overdue. We in Sinn Féin welcome it. As Deputy Stanley stated, the amendment we have tabled is designed to improve it. The value of local radio to communities throughout this country cannot be overstated. It provides a fantastic service that gives advice to people in every corner of the country and raises issues that would never find their way into this house if not for local radio. I say that in a positive way because it reaches out to communities and provides that service so that communities can partake in debate and publicise issues of concern. It is also open to county councillors and what were town councillors to raise national issues on local radio. The service has to be defended at all costs.

In my county, Radio Kerry has an unbelievable record. It was established in 1990 and has broadcasting studios in Tralee and Killarney. I have just looked at the figures and they are quite startling. The Joint National Listenership Research, JNLR, figures indicate that Radio Kerry has a market share of 48.3%, compared with 14.4% for RTÉ and 6.1% for 2FM. Both of the latter are State-funded organisations. It just goes to show the value of that to Kerry. The station has a weekly reach of up to 81,000 listeners, 67% of the available audience. That shows how important and accessible it is to local communities. Radio Kerry employs 100 people. Some 50 of them are full-time employees. It is currently in negotiations with Clare FM and Tipp FM. If those negotiations are successful, that will double the number of people employed, which would be of significant value to local communities.

Local radio covers a vast range of issues in communities, which is fantastic, including farming, fishing, sport and current affairs. We in this House are called to account by local radio. I have been on local radio a couple of times every month since I became a Deputy. I have been questioned by various reporters, including Jerry O'Sullivan. It has been an interesting engagement. He has been very professional, as are all the staff that I have dealt with there. He is very challenging in the context of holding me and other Deputies to account. That is invaluable because local people connect with their local representatives and want to know how their local representative represents them in this House. Many of our elderly live in rural and isolated areas. Their social connection is local radio. Every morning, the radio programme that comes on right through to late at night is their local connection. They know everything that is happening in their local communities and throughout their counties. That has to be acknowledged and has significant value to the well-being and social connection of people across the constituency.

I was looking last night at a briefing note that I got regarding 9 February for Radio Kerry. It covered three football games that day. I have been involved in the GAA for most of my life. Radio Kerry has been invaluable for local results and so on. It covered three games that day. Two were all-Ireland finals. One was the intermediate championship, which Kilcummin won, while Beaufort won the junior championship. That night, the Kerry garsúns went out and beat Dublin in Tralee. It was a fantastic service. Radio Kerry lost advertising revenue by doing that because there was no break in the programme. That shows what a tremendous connection it is for everybody in our area.

We also need to acknowledge the role that local radio plays in county emergency plans, through the Garda, fire brigade, hospital services and any aspect that is in need. Even during the Beast from the East, local radio gave us news of what was happening all over our county and the country in general, about where people could be in danger and about matters of which people should be aware. Radio Kerry is considered locally as the voice of the kingdom. I have already mentioned that 48.3% of the audience that is connected to radio in the county is connected to Radio Kerry. I am sure that is replicated across the country. That is how valuable and important it is, and why we have to defend it, ensure it survives and continues to develop further. It is an essential part of our life, especially for our elderly, for those of us who have been involved in sport, agriculture and politics in this House, in county councils and so on. It is a great way for county councillors to communicate with communities and take on board issues that have been neglected. Many of those issues that come from local radio stations end up here and some can be resolved here.

I thank Deputy Dooley for tabling the motion, which I commend, and I recommend our amendment to it.

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