Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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200. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the supports provided to assist the local media sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2510/22]

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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214. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures her Department will take to secure the viability of local print and media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2808/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 214 together.

The local media sector has faced a fall in revenue arising from the COVID-19, but also faces longer term challenges as a result of changing patterns of media consumption, technology and shifts in advertising revenue to online services. I recognise the essential role that the local media plays and the particular value of local and regional newspapers in sharing reliable and relevant local news and bringing communities together.

Since I assumed formal responsibility for the media sector in September 2020, I have met key stakeholders including NewsBrands Ireland, Local Ireland and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).  In relation to the local radio sector, I have received quarterly reports from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) analysing the impact of COVID-19 on the commercial radio sector.

The Government has put in place a range of supports for all businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which are available to local newspapers and local radio stations, such as the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme.

Support for the production of audiovisual and audio content for Irish audiences is provided through the Sound and Vision Scheme, which is established under the Broadcasting Act 2009, administered by the BAI. The Sound and Vision Scheme is funded through the allocation of 7% of net licence fee receipts per annum. Under section 156 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, I as Minister may allocate additional Exchequer funding to the Sound and Vision Scheme.

In recognition of challenges facing the independent radio sector and its important contribution to society as a whole, in December 2020 I allocated additional funding of €4.9 million for the Sound and Vision Scheme, €2.5 million of which was to support the independent radio sector and €1.4 million to support the live music sector. The €2.5 million was awarded in April 2021 as part of a €2.58 million Sound and Vision Scheme funding round to support all 32 radio stations in the independent radio sector. This funding was in additional to traditional Sound and Vision Scheme funding rounds.

The loss the local media sector – newspapers and radio - has suffered from the impact of the restrictions has also been addressed by the public health advertising placed by the Government and HSE totalling at least €17.14m from March 2020 to date. A breakdown of this spend is as follows:

- €6.71m on regional / local radio and €3.67m on regional / local print in 2020, and

- €4.88m on regional / local radio and €1.88m on regional / local print in 2021.

I am also ensuring that advertising campaigns organised by my Department include a local print media element. Last year, the campaign for Cruinniú na nÓg, a day of free creative events for young people, included a spend of €187,000 on local print advertising.

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