Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is aware of the significant concerns expressed by independent local, regional and national radio stations about the workability of Coimisiún na Meán’s proposed journalism schemes for their sector; how she proposes that workable, accessible and meaningful support could be provided to the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39483/24]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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100. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps being taken to provide fair and accessible support for the core news and current affairs services of independent radio stations, which currently receive no State support; the financial measures she will introduce to support the core news and current affairs services provided by independent radio stations, given their significant contribution to public service broadcasting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39496/24]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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101. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will commit to a review of the proposed support schemes to ensure they are fit for purpose and economically viable for independent radio stations in view of the concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied); the interim measures that will be implemented to support independent radio stations while practical solutions for the proposed schemes are being developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39497/24]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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102. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way she plans to address the market distortion in the media sector and ensure a level playing field for independent radio stations competing against global technology platforms and domestic players like RTÉ; if she will engage with an organisation (details supplied) and Coimisiún na Meán to develop simple, pragmatic, and constructive solutions to support the provision of public service content by independent radio stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39498/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 102, inclusive, together.

Independent radio plays an important role in providing valuable public service content to the Irish public. The Future of Media Commission (FOMC), 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. This included the establishment of a new Media Fund to provide support for the provision of public service content by the wider media sector at local, regional and national levels on a platform neutral basis.

Following extensive engagement with the IBI and other stakeholders in relation to the Media Fund schemes, I am fully aware of the pressures on all commercial media, not least as regards the provision of important news and current affairs programming. In this regard, I have taken the concerns of the independent broadcasting sector on board and I am pleased to have secured €6m in funding for 2025 to expand the Sound and Vision Scheme to support the provision of high quality news and current affairs content on radio and television. Legislative change is required to allow news and current affairs to be funded under Sound and Vision and work is currently underway in this regard. A General Scheme providing for this is expected to be brought forward this Autumn.

This will provide an important avenue for funding in respect of news and current affairs for independent broadcasters and reflects the need to support and sustain the continued provision of free, independent, high-quality journalism that plays an indispensable role in providing objective, trustworthy and accurate news and current affairs coverage to the public. It is expected that the new Scheme will be designed by Coimisiún na Meán in parallel with the legislation being developed and enacted and an application for State Aid clearance will be made to the European Commission.

A stakeholder consultation will be carried out to ensure that the views of the independent media sector are taken into account. It is intended that applications will open and funding be distributed in the second half of 2025. As independent regulator for independent broadcasters, Coimisiún na Meán will lead the design and administration of the supports for news and current affairs on independent broadcasting services. Further details on the design of the new measure will be made available in due course.