Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way in which he intends to support community television and radio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3409/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Broadcasting Act, 2009 contains measures designed to support community broadcasting.

The Act provides for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), an independent statutory body, to prepare a scheme for the granting of funds to support certain categories of new television or sound broadcasting programmes.

One of the objectives of the scheme is to develop local and community broadcasting. The funds are granted through the Broadcasting Fund which is administered by the BAI. Under the 2009 Act the allocation for the Fund was increased from 5% to 7% of net television licence fee receipts.

The Act also requires the BAI to facilitate the transmission of community broadcasting services by entering into "community content provision contracts" with community interests.

The BAI may also, of its own initiative, or at the request of a local community or a community interest, carry out an assessment of the needs of a community in respect of broadcasting.

My colleague the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs oversees the Community Services Programme, which can also provide funding to community radio.