Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the direct cost to the Exchequer of funding TG4; his views on the funding of TG4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36842/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill was enacted on the 2nd August 2011. The Broadcasting provisions of this Act give legal effect to the distribution of some of the net licence fee monies to TG4, giving effect to a decision taken in Budget 2011. This figure has been determined to be €9.245m for 2011. The remainder of TG4's €32.75m current funding for 2011 is direct Exchequer funding. Section 124 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 requires the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), within 3 years of enactment of the Broadcasting Act, to review the adequacy or otherwise of public funding to enable public service broadcasters to meet their public service objects.

I have considered the first such report completed and submitted by the Authority in this matter. My consideration of this matter was undertaken by me in the context of the provisions of Section 124(6) of the 2009 Act, which requires the Minister to publish a response to any recommendation made in the report by the Authority as to the adequacy or otherwise of public funding of the public service broadcasters. I will be arranging for copies of the report and my response to any recommendation contained in it to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in the coming weeks.