Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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14. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to support local and regional radio stations in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37404/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I acknowledge the valuable source of reliable and trustworthy news that local radio offers in a time of uncertainty and with much disinformation in circulation.   Local radio also plays an important role in bringing communities together, strengthening their bonds of solidarity and mutual support. I recognise the challenges faced by the sector due to COVID-19 and am pleased the supports in 2020 provided a valuable source of funding at this challenging time.

During 2020, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI)  held two closed rounds for radio, targeted at the independent commercial and community radio sectors respectively.

In June 2020, the BAI awarded €2.5m Sound and Vision funding to 32 independent commercial radio stations across the country supporting public awareness and understanding of COVID-19.  This was in addition to a waiver on the broadcasting levy for the independent radio sector for Q1 and Q2 2020 which saved the sector €1m.  I secured €0.839m in Budget 2021 to recoup the BAI for this levy waiver.

In addition, the BAI distributed €750,000 this year in a special round for the community radio sector.

The purpose of the Sound and Vision Scheme is to support eligible content across the broadcasting sector as a whole, ensuring a balanced and fair approach. In light of the ongoing challenges faced by the sector, I secured an additional €2m in exchequer funding for the Sound and Vision Scheme under the July Stimulus Package. This greatly enhanced the funding available for the final round of the Scheme this year (round 37), bringing its total value to €4.5m.  This funding round is open to those elements of the radio sector that were not eligible for the rounds to commercial and community radio earlier in the year, namely independent audio producers and public service radio. In addition, the round is open to independent audio-visual producers, and commercial, community and public service television stations. 

I was pleased to note the impact the Government horizontal supports are continuing to have on substantially reducing the cost base for the commercial radio sector during the restrictions. A total of €4.3m has been received across the industry from the Government’s COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Support Scheme.   Local radio has also been included in the Government’s current advertising campaign on resilience.  

The BAI continue to report to me quarterly on the Impact of COVID-19 on Commercial Radio Sector.  I recently received the quarter 3 report and I am pleased to note the small growth in advertising revenues in that  quarter.  However I recognise that the current lockdown has again had a severe impact on the sector, especially at local level. The BAI will continue to report to me on a quarterly basis and the Q4 report will help give a picture of the overall impact on the range of supports for the year.

The BAI is currently finalising the most recent round and no decisions regarding 2021 rounds have been made as yet.  It must be recognised that the BAI is an statutorily independent body.  However I am aware the BAI will be meeting with representatives of the commercial radio sector to discuss the approach to Sound and Vision in the New Year and I very much welcome that. I will continue to work closely with the BAI to see how we can best support the sector in the coming period.