Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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137. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will confirm whether she expects to receive the report from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on support for the independent radio sector within 100 days of the Report Stage of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022, as outlined in Dáil Éireann on 30 November 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6064/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On foot of my commitment in the Dáil Report Stage of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, on 5 December 2022 I wrote to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to ask them to undertake an analysis of the financial health of the commercial radio sector and to submit a report to me within 100 days (i.e. mid-March). The purpose of the report will be to:

- provide an understanding of the dynamics of the current economic environment and its impact on the economic viability of the commercial radio sector in Ireland;

- examine any specific pressures identified in the context of underlying structural factors in the commercial radio sector, including ownership structures;

- inform deliberations on any possible short-term measures that could support the sector in 2023; and,

- inform deliberations by Coimisiún na Meán on the structure of the levy or levies on regulated services it is expected to introduce in 2024, in particular commercial radio broadcasters.

I am very much aware of the importance of the commercial radio sector, and the role that local and regional radio stations play in communities around the country. I look forward to receiving the report and examining its findings.