Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

746. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland's call for the creation of a new fund, which would support public service broadcasts on independent radio stations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34428/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A proportion of the television licence fee monies is already being made available to commercial and community broadcasters through the Broadcasting Funding Scheme, which is administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) under 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 and is funded by way of 7% of net licence fee receipts. The current scheme, Sound & Vision III, was launched in February 2015 will run for a period of five years. Funding during the period is expected to be in the region of €70 million. I recognise that many local radio stations, both rural and urban, perform a very valuable function in the communities they serve and provide additional value, most particularly in the area of local reporting.

While I do not consider it possible to introduce a Public Service Broadcasting Charge within the lifetime of this Government, I believe that a wider debate needs to take place prior to the introduction of any such charge. This debate would provide an opportunity to examine how the additional value provided by local stations to the communities they serve might be treated in the future.