Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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200. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there are any plans to fund a radio station (details supplied) in order for it to broadcast on FM; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44752/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2009, my Department has been funding Raidió Rí-Rá, a radio station for young people through the medium of Irish, broadcast on the internet and on smartphone apps. Under the current grant agreement, €119,000 is approved for Raidió Rí-Rá in 2022 and €109,000 in 2023. My Department also provided €47,222 in the form of a capital grant in 2020 to upgrade the station’s studio space.

At the request of my Department, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is currently undertaking a three-phase research project relating to the provision of an Irish-medium radio service for young people. Phase 1 of this research relates to promoting the Irish language among Irish youth audiences generally while also exploring the views of a national representative sample of the 15-34 age group in Ireland on a range of topics and questions relevant to demand for, content of, and access to, an Irish language hybrid radio service. Phase 2 will explore the views of the intended core audience of the service i.e., native and fluent Irish speakers and/or those with a very good competency in Irish who would access Irish language media on a regular basis (aged 15-34) on the same topics. Phase 3 research addresses the technical aspects of potential FM transmission of a radio service for young Irish speakers.

A report regarding the results of this research is expected by year end. This report will inform any decision regarding the establishment of a service on FM.