James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

64. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline the funding from Budget 2026 for local and community radio stations across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64586/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Local and community radio stations play a vital role in providing valuable public service content to the Irish public, contributing to a diversity and a plurality of voices in the media sector.

The Programme for Government acknowledges that local and national independent broadcasters perform a vital public service and deserve to have this recognised.

€16m in Exchequer funding was secured in Budget 2026 for the continuation and enhancement of the Media Fund Schemes. This comprises €6m for the Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Schemes and €4m for the Digital Transformation Scheme. Local and community radio is eligible to receive funding from all of these schemes. I also secured €5m for the News Reporting Scheme, which includes €3m of ring-fenced funding for the commercial radio sector.

Furthermore, I was successful in achieving €1m for the development of a Community Media Scheme. This reflects the invaluable role that community media plays in community engagement, cohesion, and in the promotion of social inclusion in communities across the State.

Coimisiún na Meán are progressing a body of research into current community media supports. This research, when complete, will inform future policy decisions taken including in relation to the design and implementation of the Community Media Scheme. The research will also look at ways to ensure community media are well positioned to access schemes on a more even playing field with larger media counterparts.

In addition to the €16m for the Media Fund Schemes, funding of €1.465m was secured for the Sound and Vision Scheme, which provides ongoing vital support to local and community radio and which will be added to the estimated €14m that the Scheme is likely to receive through the TV licence fee.

The suite of Schemes now in operation under the Media Fund cater to all parts of the media sector, including supporting the provision of high-quality public interest journalism through the Local Democracy, Courts Reporting and News Reporting Scheme along with supporting the ability of the sector to invest in digital skills and development through the Digital Transformation Scheme.

As Minister, I understand the important role that local and community radio plays in our society. The supports provided, and in particular the new dedicated Community Media Scheme, will ensure the continued provision of essential support for local and community radio nationwide.