Written answers
Thursday, 25 May 2023
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Na Meáin Chumarsáide
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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162. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cé mhéad maoiniú a caitheadh ar TG4 in aghaidh gach bliana ó 2003, agus an ndéanfaidh sí briseadh síos air de réir maoiniú reatha agus caipitil. [24699/23]
Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Maoinítear TG4 faoi láthair trí leithdháileadh Státchiste ó mo Roinnse, maoiníodh TG4 i bpáirt ó ioncam ó cheadúnais teilifíse idir 2012 agus 2018. Bhain an maoiniú breise a cuireadh ar fáil in 2020 le caiteachas breise a bhí ag teastáil ó TG4 chun tabhairt faoi chláir a sholáthar a bhain le COVID-19, agus in 2022 cuireadh roinnt maoiniú breise ar fáil chun aistriú chuig tarchur ardghléine ar Saorview a éascú.
Sonraítear sa tábla thíos an maoiniú a cuireadh ar fáil do TG4 ó 2003 i leith, miondealaithe de réir maoiniú reatha, caipitil, ceadúnas teilifíse agus breise.
TG4 are currently funded by way of an Exchequer allocation from my Department, having been partially funded by TV licence revenues between 2012 and 2018. The additional funding provided in 2020 related to extra expenditure TG4 was required to undertake to provide COVID-related programming, while in 2022 some additional funding was provided to facilitate a move to transmission in HD on Saorview.
The table below details the funding provided to TG4 since 2003, broken down by current, capital, TV licence and additional funding.
| Maoiniú TG4 2003-2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bliain | Maoiniú reatha | Maoiniú caipitil | Ioncam ó na Ceadúnais Teilfíse | Ioncam Breise | Iomlán |
| 2003 | €21,065,000 | €845,000 | €21,910,000 | ||
| 2004 | €22,292,000 | €869,000 | €23,161,000 | ||
| 2005 | €23,989,000 | €869,000 | €24,858,000 | ||
| 2006 | €28,632,000 | €2,148,000 | €30,780,000 | ||
| 2007 | €30,980,000 | €917,000 | €31,897,000 | ||
| 2008 | €35,473,000 | €917,000 | €36,390,000 | ||
| 2009 | €38,913,446 | €900,000 | €39,813,446 | ||
| 2010 | €32,250,000 | €1,800,000 | €34,050,000 | ||
| 2011 | €32,750,000 | €3,510,000 | €36,260,000 | ||
| 2012 | €23,505,000 | €3,510,000 | €9,245,000 | €36,260,000 | |
| 2013 | €23,505,000 | €1,612,000 | €9,245,000 | €34,362,000 | |
| 2014 | €23,505,000 | €1,533,000 | €9,245,000 | €34,283,000 | |
| 2015 | €22,995,000 | €920,000 | €9,245,000 | €33,160,000 | |
| 2016 | €23,295,000 | €2,820,000 | €9,245,000 | €35,360,000 | |
| 2017 | €28,545,000 | €1,450,000 | €4,245,000 | €34,240,000 | |
| 2018 | €29,545,000 | €2,900,000 | €4,245,000 | €36,690,000 | |
| 2019 | €34,233,000 | €2,000,000 | €36,233,000 | ||
| 2020 | €34,233,000 | €3,000,000 | €1,900,000 | €39,133,000 | |
| 2021 | €36,733,000 | €4,000,000 | €40,733,000 | ||
| 2022 | €40,733,000 | €4,200,000 | €116,000 | €45,049,000 |
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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163. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cé mhéad maoiniú breise a theastóidh chun straitéis forbartha TG4 a chur i bhfeidhm in aghaidh na bliana, agus an bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Aire í a chur i bhfeidhm. [24700/23]
Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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San Acht Craolacháin 2009 ceanglaítear ar chraoltóirí seirbhíse poiblí ráiteas straitéise a ullmhu gach 5 bliana, ina ndéantar cur síos ar an gcaoi a bhfuil sé beartaithe acu a gcuid cuspóirí faoin Acht a sheachadadh. Chomh maith leis sin de réir an Achta, ceanglaítear ar Choimisiún na Meán (Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann roimhe seo) athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar na straitéisí, leordhóthanacht an mhaoinithe a chuirtear ar fáil, agus moltaí a dhéanamh maidir leis an maoiniú a theastaíonn.
D’ullmhaigh agus chuir TG4 a ráiteas straitéise don tréimhse 2018 go 2022 isteach i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2017, agus tá straitéis nua á hullmhú acu don tréimhse 2023 go 2027 faoi láthair.
Tar éis athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar an straitéis 2018 go 2022, chinn Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann go raibh méadú €6m ag teastáil ar mhaoiniú reatha bliantúil TG4. Thar an tréimhse atá i gceist méadaíodh an leithdháileadh maoinithe bliantúil incháilithe do TG4 go €43.049m, thart ar €4.249m os cionn an leibhéil a moladh.
In 2021, d’fhorbair TG4 straitéis iar-COVID. Cé nach straitéis reachtúil í seo agus nár athbhreithnigh Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann í, mar sin féin, fuair mé €7.3m sa bhreis do 2023, arbh é an t-ardú maoinithe aonair is mó a bronnadh ar TG4 ó bunaíodh é. Áiríodh leis an leithdháileadh seo soláthar do sheoladh chainéal nua Cúla4 do pháistí i mí Mheán Fómhair na bliana seo.
Nuair a fhaightear an straitéis nua, déanfaidh Coimisiún na Meán athbhreithniú ar leordhóthanacht an mhaoinithe atá ar fáil chun an straitéis seo a sheachadadh, agus ar athbhreithniú an Choimisiúin a fháil, scrúdóidh mé aon mholtaí ar aon dul leis an bpróiseas reachtúil.
The Broadcasting Act 2009 requires public service broadcasters to prepare a strategy statement every 5 years, detailing how they intend to deliver on their objects under the Act. Also in accordance with the Act, Coimisiún na Meán (formerly the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland) is required to review the strategies, the adequacy of funding provided, and make recommendations as to the funding required to meet commitments under the strategies.
TG4 prepared and submitted their strategy statement for the 2018 to 2022 period in October 2017, and are currently preparing a new strategy for the 2023 to 2027 period.
Following the review of the 2018 to 2022 strategy, the former BAI determined that TG4 required an increase in annual current funding of €6m. Over the period in question TG4's eligible annual funding allocation was increased to €43.049m, some €4.249m above the level recommended.
In 2021, TG4 developed a post-COVID strategy. While this was not a statutory strategy, and as such was not reviewed by the BAI, nevertheless I secured an additional €7.3m in Budget 2023, which was the single largest funding increase awarded to TG4 since its inception. This allocation included provision for the launch of the new Cúla4 children's channel in September this year.
Upon receipt of the new TG4 strategy, Coimisiún na Meán will review the adequacy of funding available to deliver on this strategy, and on receipt of An Coimisiún's review, I will consider any recommendations which might be made.
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