Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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449. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the bursary scheme for community and local radio stations will be introduced in the near future; if she will provide details of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29507/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 will, inter alia, dissolve the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, establish a new regulatory body, Coimisiún na Meán, and provide for an updated regulatory framework for broadcasting and audiovisual on-demand media services and for a new regulatory framework for online safety to be overseen by An Coimisiún.

Section 50 of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 (as initiated), amends the Broadcasting Act 2009 by inserting a new section 155A into that Act. Pursuant to this section, Coimisiún na Meán shall prepare and submit to the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for their approval a scheme or schemes to make grants to community sound broadcasters for the purposes of supporting and promoting good professional journalistic practices and standards in community sound broadcasting.

The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 completed Committee Stage in the Seanad on 31 May 2022, with Report Stage to be scheduled in due course. It is my intention that section 50 of the Bill will be commenced in due course following the enactment of the Bill.

The commencement of section 50 of the Bill following enactment will provide the legal basis for An Coimisiún to prepare and submit a scheme or schemes for Ministerial approval and to make and carry out any approved schemes. Under the Bill, any scheme made by An Coimisiún is required to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas, where it will be subject to a negative resolution procedure.