Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 June 2026
74. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department is addressing the challenges facing local radio given increasing costs in broadcast levies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44556/26]
View answerLocal 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. Minister O'Donovan is acutely aware of the challenges facing our local and regional radio stations in the current climate and in an increasingly competitive market.
So far in 2026, €4.3m has been awarded to support the commercial radio sector, at a local and regional and national level, through the suite of funding schemes supporting the wider media sector.
This includes €3m in ring-fenced funding for the commercial radio sector, which was awarded by Coimisiún na Meán through the News Reporting Scheme. Round 2 of the News Reporting Scheme opened for applications in April, with funding awards expected to be announced later this year.
Coimisiún na Meán's levy funding model operates in accordance with a long-standing tradition that the costs of regulation are met by regulated sectors themselves. The Broadcasting Act (as amended) provides that it is Coimisiún na Meán and not Government that sets the levy to meet these costs.
While the Minister is not in a position to intervene on the matter of the broadcasting levy, he met with An Coimisiún to seek clarity regarding its approach to implementing its statutory responsibilities with respect to the levy and to express a need for them to more clearly communicate such matters to their stakeholders and to the public.
The Department continues to engage with both Coimisiún na Meán and Independent Broadcasters of Ireland on the challenges facing both local radio and the wider commercial radio sector.
