Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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199. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce supports for the commercial and community broadcasting sector, including radio and television, through the operation of the current television licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22599/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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A proportion of the television licence fee monies is already being made available to commercial and community broadcasters through the Broadcasting Funding Scheme, as provided for under Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The purpose of this Scheme, which covers both radio and television, is to encourage the inclusion of additional programming of a particular character in broadcasters programme schedules. The Scheme is open to independent producers and all ‘free to air’ commercial, community and public service broadcasters. It is funded by way of a payment of 7% of net licence fee receipts, which is paid to the BAI in respect of this Scheme. This amount was increased from 5% to 7% under the Broadcasting Act 2009.

The current scheme, Sound & Vision III, was launched in February 2015 and will see up to €24 million in funding being made available to television and radio programmes through five funding rounds to be rolled out over the next two years.