Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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1537. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the public service broadcasting charge and a valuable local community radio station (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30611/15]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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1555. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his policy toward community media and funding currently provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31829/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1537 and 1555 together.

The Programme for Government committed to examining the role and collection of the TV licence fee in light of existing and projected convergence of technologies and to transforming the TV licence into a household based Public Service Broadcasting Charge to be applied to all eligible households and applicable businesses, regardless of the device used to access content or services. The primary objective in introducing a Public Service Broadcasting Charge is to secure a more stable funding stream for public service broadcasting than the current TV Licence system provides in light of the current high level of evasion and the impact that technological developments are having on the way that media is consumed.

In terms of the introduction of any new charge, in my statement of 21 April 2015 on the publication of the NewERA and Indecon reports, I indicated that I had advised Government that it would not be possible to replace the TV licence fee with a public service broadcasting charge within the lifetime of this Government. I also pointed to the need to build public understanding and support for the introduction of such a charge.

In terms of funding for community broadcasters, a proportion of the television licence fee monies are 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.

Community Broadcasters also have access to the Community Broadcasting Support Scheme which was recently launched by the BAI. This scheme has a total available fund of €30,000 for 2015 and is open to all fully licensed Community and Community of Interest TV and radio stations throughout the country. This scheme is specifically designed to offer funding support to enable them to further advance from an organisational development perspective, e.g. staff training and capacity development.

Between 2010 and 2014, the Community radio sector received €3.79 million from the Sound and Vision II scheme to produce 485 various programmes such as documentaries, sports, arts, music and drama. 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.