Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans for the distribution of the television licence reserve fund; the full extent of this fund at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3574/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans for the distribution of the television licence reserve fund; the full extent of this fund at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3946/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 283 together.

The Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003 provides for the preparation and administration of a scheme or schemes by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, BCI, to support the production of certain categories of new programmes on radio and television services. The BCI has drawn up a scheme and in accordance with section 2(1) of the Act has submitted it to me for my approval. The scheme will also require approval of the European Commission as a new state aid.

That Act provides that drawing up the detail of any scheme along with its administration are matters for the BCI. Accordingly, once a scheme has been approved it is a matter for the BCI to determine when applications can be made, the manner in which awards are made and the resources to be devoted to administering the scheme. At the end of 2004 almost €17.5 million had been paid into the fund.