Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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508. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of funding provided by his Department to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland; the number of staff employed by the authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13976/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) was established by the Broadcasting Act 2009 as the independent regulator for the broadcasting industry.

The operation of the BAI is financed by industry levy.  The total levy collected in 2016 from broadcasters was €4.87m and the Authority had a staff complement of 35.  Further details about the operations of the BAI including levy and staffing is available in the Authority's Annual Reports which are published on the BAI website atwww.bai.ie.

The BAI also operates the Broadcasting Fund which is funded by 7% of net licence fee receipts.  The fund received €13.6m in 2016 and €14m in 2017 from licence fee receipts.  The fund is used to finance the Sound and Vision and Archiving Schemes.  Further details about the Broadcasting Fund and the projects supported are available on the BAI website.