Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1293. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the commitments to review the operation of the broadcasting levy (details supplied); the impact this will have on smaller and independent broadcasting organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1152/18]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1294. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the commitments to establish a new bursary scheme for journalists working in local or community radio (details supplied); the amount that will be allocated to this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1153/18]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1295. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the commitments to establish a new bursary scheme for journalists working in local or community radio (details supplied); the amount that will be allocated to this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1154/18]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1296. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for a new bursary scheme for journalists working in print media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1155/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1293 to 1296, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy will be aware, I obtained Government approval to proceed with the drafting of a number of legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Act, 2009 including amendment of the provisions of the Act relating to the broadcasting levy to alleviate the burden on broadcasters. The proposals provide that a portion of the licence fee receipts will be paid to BAI to help defray their administrative costs. This will reduce the overall levy to be paid by the sector and would be applied evenly across all broadcasters. The amount of the reduction would be contingent on the overall level of licence fee receipts.

The proposals also provide for the introduction of a new funding scheme to offer bursaries to journalists working in local or community radio stations. The proposed amendments to the Broadcasting Act, 2009 only relate to the broadcasting sector as I have no statutory function under the Broadcasting Act, 2009 in relation to print media.

As the Deputy is also aware, the proposed amendments are currently being considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment under Pre-Legislative Scrutiny and I look forward to receiving the Committee’s report as soon as possible.