Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2026
322. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will detail his strategy to support public sector broadcasting in both the long and short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31784/26]
View answerThe level of public funding to public service media is determined in accordance with the Broadcasting Act 2009. Under the current system, every five years Coimisiún na Meán submit recommendations in respect of requisite level of public funding required to permit RTÉ and TG4 to fulfil their statutory public service objects. The most recent funding recommendation, covering the years 2026 and 2027, was submitted by Coimisiún na Meán to me as Minister on 30 June 2025. The Government published its response in December 2025.
In 2026, public funding allocated to:
• RTÉ has been increased from €225m to €240m (or 6.7%) in accordance with the multi-annual commitment made in July 2024; and
• TG4 has been increased from the Revised Estimates 2025 base of €60m to €65.4m (or 9%), which includes once-off capital allocation of €1.5m.
In its response to Coimisiún na Meán's funding recommendation, the Government set out that in relation to 2027 and in the context of the Budgetary resources available, the Government will:
• in respect of TG4 and RTÉ, take into account the Coimisiún na Meán funding recommendation for that year;
• in respect of RTÉ, seek to allocate €260m of public funding in accordance with the previously announced multi-annual allocation to provide certainty to RTÉ to allow it to implement its strategy and transformation; and
• in respect of TG4, take into account any further recommendation made by Coimisiún na Meán with regard to editorial control of Irish-language news services provided by TG4.
At the EU level, Article 5 of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) sets out an overarching framework governing the funding procedures that must in place in respect of public service media. To give effect to Article 5 of EMFA and to recommendations made by the Future of Media Commission, in April 2025 I published the revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill. I intend to seek the approval of Government to publish the Bill in the coming weeks.
The Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill will, inter alia, enhance accountability, transparency and value-for-money in our public service media providers by:
• improving the legislative underpinning for the corporate governance of RTÉ and TG4, including by assigning the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RTÉ; and
• reforming the system by which Coimisiún na Meán assesses the performance of, and recommends funding for, RTÉ and TG4.
The Bill, when enacted, will replace the current 5-yearly review of the adequacy of public funding with a 3-yearly appraisal of funding and performance in which Coimisiún na Meán will identify the performance commitments and outputs and associated financial inputs, performance indicators and metrics which shall apply to RTÉ and TG4 for a 3-year period. The 3-yearly appraisal will be carried out in accordance with a methodology which shall be adopted by Coimisiún an Meán following a public consultation. The 3-yearly appraisal will also replace the annual statement of performance commitments prepared by RTÉ and TG4 under section 102 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as Coimisiún na Meán, rather than the providers, will ultimately be setting performance commitments.
Following on from the 3-year appraisal, RTÉ and TG4 will each develop and publish 3-year Statements of Strategy. Accordingly, subject to the Bill completing the legislative process in a timely fashion, the next funding recommendations to be submitted by Coimisiún na Meán will be in respect of each of the years 2028 – 2030, be carried out under the provisions set out in the Bill and will be accompanied by performance commitments and indicators to apply to RTÉ and TG4. In accordance with the Bill, the Government will consider the funding recommendations of Coimisiún an Meán and publish a response.
The reformed system for assessing the funding and performance of public service media set out in the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill is intended to ensure appropriate levels of public funding are provided to RTÉ and TG4 to allow them to fulfil their public service remit in an effective and efficient manner over the long-term.
