Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the implications of the broadcasting levy; his views on whether it will impact adversely on staffing levels of the independent radio sector, with jobs already having been lost due to the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16627/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Section 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the making of a levy order by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for the purposes of meeting the expenses of the Authority and its Committees in undertaking the performance of its statutory functions. The BAI has reviewed its initial budget of €7.632 million for 2010 and has set a revised budget at €6.020 million. Following a decision by the Authority not to include the BAI's depreciation charge of €365,000 the amount to be funded by industry levy amounts to €5.635 million, a total reduction of almost €2 million on the original budget. This will mean that the levy on independent radio stations will be considerably reduced as compared with the original budget. This should significantly assist the sector in what, I accept, is a difficult commercial climate for it.

I understand the Authority has advised that it is committed to minimising the burden on industry and it has requested the Chief Executive to continuously review its proposed expenditure throughout 2010 with the aim of reducing it where possible. In accordance with section 33 of the Act, any surplus of levy income over expenditure in 2010 shall be offset against future levies or refunded, as appropriate. The BAI has published details of its estimated income and expenditure for 2010 on its website www.bai.ie. In addition, at the meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on 31 March 2010 the BAI undertook to review the levy and the levy order during the year with a view to measuring its impact and it is anticipated that they will report on this in Q1 2011.