Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 351: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his intentions for the distribution of the television licence reserve fund; the full extent of this fund at present; if he expects to bring in the necessary legislation to deal with this issue in early course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20838/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003 provides that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) prepare a scheme or schemes for the funding of grants to support certain television and radio programmes.

The first scheme, "Sound & Vision", was approved by me in November 2005. The scheme is designed to support the production and transmission of high quality programming based on Irish culture and heritage and is funded from the allocation of a sum equal to 5% of the net revenue from television licence fee receipts. The amount allocated by the BCI under the first funding round of the scheme was €11m.

The Fund now stands at a total of in excess of €29m.