Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 and 346 together.

Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for 7% of net TV licence receipts to be made available to the Broadcasting Fund, which is administered by Coimisiún na Meán (formerly the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland).

The Fund supports the Sound and Vision Scheme and Archiving Scheme. The objectives of the Sound and Vision Scheme include developing local and community broadcasting, and the Act also makes further provision that An Coimisiún, in preparing a scheme, may have regard to the development needs of community broadcasters.

In this context, a new funding initiative was established in 2021 under the Sound and Vision Scheme with the purpose of supporting the development of the community broadcasting sector. The objective of this funding measure, the Social Benefit Fund, is to provide the social benefits as set out in the Social Benefit Framework for community broadcasters, published on the 19th of June 2020. This funding aims to facilitate better representation and diversity of local communities, communities of interest or of special interest in their respective community radio or TV station.

This active participation and representation assists in the creation of more diverse broadcast content, stronger community engagement and inclusiveness, and support for communities to develop a greater involvement in the production and dissemination of broadcast content through their engagement with community radio or TV. This initiative also provides an opportunity for the community broadcasting contractors to focus on building capacity to support the achievement of greater sustainability.

Community radio can avail of funding through the Community Services Programme (CSP) which gives financial support to community companies and co-operatives to help with the cost of hiring staff. This initiative is managed by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Affairs.

To date €1.5m was made available for two social benefit rounds which were awarded by Coimisiún na Meán/BAI in 2021 and 2023. Further supports, in which some operational funding is eligible, are also offered to the community sector through the open rounds of the Sound and Vision Scheme. In addition, a further community benefit round is expected to be announced by Coimisiún na Meán later this year.

Coimisiún na Meán is independent in relation to the discharge of its functions including the administration of funding under the Sound and Vision Scheme.