Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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936.To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if independent media can be supported through the review of State broadcasting support. [32477/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Public service media is critical to a well-functioning democracy, as well as being essential for cultural development, social cohesion and wellbeing. As such, it requires a funding model that provides certainty, is sustainable and, vitally, protects the independence of media providers. As has been previously stated, this Government is committed to a decision on the future funding model before the end of the month.

I am conscious that provision of high quality public service media content is not just the preserve of our public service media bodies, RTé and TG4, but that commercial broadcasters, such as local radio, and other media platforms, like local newspapers, play an important role in providing valuable public service content to the Irish public.

The Future of Media Commission, in examining the challenges faced by the media sector and consequent impact on the provision of public service content, made a number of recommendations to counter these challenges and to support the provision of public service content.

As such, and as I have stated previously, the overall public funding model for media needs to take account of the need to support not only RTé and TG4, but also the independent producers, national, local and community broadcasters and other media providers such as local and national newspapers.

One recommendation made by the Future of Media Commission was the establishment of a new Media Fund to provide support for the provision of public service content by the wider media and journalism sector at local, regional and national levels on a platform neutral basis. The Commission also recommended six new funding schemes, and the first two to support Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Schemes, have recently been launched by Coimisiún na Meán, and for which €6m is being provided through my Department's 2024 allocation.

For many years, support for independent broadcasters including local radio has been made through the Sound and Vision Scheme. In addition to the funding provided through the TV licence, since the formation of this Government a further €28.4m in Exchequer funding has been provided to Sound and Vision, enabling increased investment in public service content for television and radio. This has enabled increased investment in public service content for television and radio, including a number of dedicated independent commercial radio rounds, with nearly 800 projects total awarded funding through the scheme since 2020.