Broadcasting Sector

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Questions (447)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

447. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will provide an update on the re-licensing of the community content television services Cork Community Television and Dublin Community Television, given that Coimisiún na Meán invited both services to apply for new contracts by 21 January 2026, and that the existing contract extensions expired on 28 April 2026; whether new broadcasting contracts have been awarded to each service; the duration of any such contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49514/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport

The assessment of individual licensing applications in respect of community television are matters for Coimisiún na Meán in the exercise of its independent statutory functions.

The matter raised relates to community television broadcasting contracts, which is a matter for which the independent regulator Coimisiún na Meán is responsible under part 6 of the Broadcasting Act, as amended, 2009. Further to this, section 10 of the Act states that "the Commission shall be independent in the performance of its functions”.

As Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for managing the licensing process - including inviting and assessing applications, evaluating them against relevant statutory and licensing criteria and making licensing decisions on that basis - I have no role in, and cannot comment on, the status or assessment of individual applications.

oireachtasqueries@cnam.ie is a dedicated email address for parliamentary Oireachtas inquiries that Coimisiún na Meán has put in place.