Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

271. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when funding will be made available to a sector (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23653/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A strong and independent media sector is central to our parliamentary democracy, freedom of speech and to the provision of quality and impartial information, particularly in the context of Covid-19. I recognise the essential role that the print media plays in this regard and the particular value of local and regional newspapers in bringing communities together and sharing reliable and relevant local news.

In terms of specific supports for the local print sector, it is of particular importance regarding media organisations to avoid any perception of undue Government interference or influence and the funding of newspapers is therefore a complex issue. I am, however, cognisant of the importance of this sector, and the financial issues which it currently faces.

This is a sector which has been in decline over the last number of years and is undergoing fundamental changes due to new patterns in the consumption of media and a shift to online advertising. In recognition of these longer term challenges, the Programme for Government provided for the establishment of the Future of Media Commission to consider the future of print, broadcast and online media in a platform-agnostic fashion. While the Commission is not a representative body, the Taoiseach and I were pleased to be in a position to appoint a member of the Commission who has a strong background in local print and radio. In addition, at the Commission’s invitation, the representative group, Local Ireland, has participated in two panel discussions with Commission members and the public as part of the Commission’s series of thematic dialogues. The Commission has therefore been extensively briefed on issues facing the local print sector. The print sector has participated in the Commission’s consultations and will be part of the recommendations. The Commission is due to report to Government in the coming months and I look forward to its deliberations and recommendations on how we might work to shape a vibrant national and local media sector in Ireland.

As to the comparison with the radio sector, the Covid-19 related measures put in place for the radio sector were provided through specific funding rounds of the existing Sound and Vision scheme. This is a statutory scheme provided for under Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and is largely funded by the television licence. It is limited by statute to audiovisual and sound media and is independently administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. There is no equivalent statutory framework for the print sector. However, as stated above, the report of the Future of Media Commission will make recommendations in relation to the print media and it makes sense to wait for its report.

In the shorter term I recognise that the print sector has suffered losses from Covid-19 and is receiving Government supports such as the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme. The loss the sector has suffered from the impact of the restrictions has also been helped by the public health advertising placed by the Government. I understand that in the region of €4.4 million has been expended on regional and local print advertising from March 2020 to date.

My officials continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders in order to explore the issues arising and build an understanding of the range of challenges facing the sector at present.