Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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133. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the recommendations of the Report of the Future of Media Commission to establish six new support schemes, including the establishment of a local democracy reporting scheme and a Courts reporting scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5714/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Report of the Future of Media Commission (FOMC) recommended that the Broadcasting Fund, currently provided for under Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and which supports the Sound and Vision and Archiving Schemes, should be converted into a Media Fund to provide funding on a platform-neutral basis to the wider media sector.

The Report also recommended that in addition to the two current schemes, the Media Fund should support six new support schemes, to be introduced on a phased basis. The Report proposed that the new Fund should be operated by the new regulator being established under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, Coimisiún na Meán, to ensure that any funding decisions made are independent of Government, and also that the Fund be established on administrative basis in advance of its formal establishment on a statutory basis.

In light of the recommendations of the Report, €6 million has been allocated in Budget 2023 to the Media Fund on an administrative basis, with the priority being the establishment of a Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and a Courts Reporting Scheme, both of which will support the production of public service content on a platform-neutral basis. The FOMC Implementation Strategy and Action Plan, agreed by Government on 18 January this year, sets out the steps that will be taken to implement the recommendations of the Report, including the two priority Schemes.

In accordance with the FOMC Implementation Strategy and Action Plan, the broad parameters of the Schemes will be developed by my Department while the detailed design and administration of the Schemes, including issues regarding eligibility, will be the responsibility of Coimisiún na Meán.

My officials, in consultation with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, have commenced work on the broad parameters of the Schemes and will consult with relevant statekholders in this regard. Once Coimisiún na Meán has finalised the design of the Schemes, State aid clearance will be sought from the European Commission if necessary. Following any State aid approval that may be required, I expect that Coimisiún na Meán will begin the practical administration of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and the Courts Reporting Scheme in the latter part of this year.