From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
Tuigeann muintir na hÉireann an tábhacht atá leis na meáin, go h-áirithe in aois seo an mhí-eolais.
Mar is eol do chách, bhí sé mar chuspóir agam, mar Aire, bun ceart a chur faoin na meáin poiblí – RTÉ agus TG4 – agus do seirbhíse poiblí na meán i gcoitinne. Tá céim mhór chun tosaigh tógtha ag an Rialtas inniú chun an chuspóir sin a bhaint amach. Tá cinnteacht tugtha do mhaoiniú RTÉ agus tá arduithe suntastacha curtha ar fail do Chiste na Meán.
The coalition’s Programme for Government noted that “a vibrant, diverse, and independent media is essential to our democracy and our cultural development.” It recognised the important role of Irish public broadcasting in Irish life in the context of an ever-changing media environment.
Today, Government has agreed to provide certainty of funding for RTE’s future. Government agreed to my proposal for appropriate, rising multi-annual public funding for the broadcaster, a part of which is a confirmation of Exchequer support. This will be provided for the next three years at a minimum. For next year, RTÉ will be provided with total public funding, from both TV licence revenue and Exchequer support, of €225 million. That funding will increase during and over those three years to meet the investment need to support delivery of the new RTÉ strategy, rising to €240m in 2026 and €260m in 2027.
The current TV licence system will also be retained, but underpinned by improvements in collection and compliance to maximise revenue generation.
The TV licence will continue to be collected by An Post. But in order to ensure that the system can continue to deliver levels of public funding for public service media, a range of administrative, technical and compliance measures will be examined to strengthen the system.
Government has today tasked the TV licence Technical Working Group, Chaired by my Department, to reconvene and to further consider and assess the improvements and enhancements which are required. As part of this, Government is also committed to providing additional resources to enable An Post, as the statutory collection agent, put in place the necessary operational and system changes.
These dual measures will ensure certainty for RTE to allow it to implement its strategy and transformation.
Government today also agreed to the provision of increased funding for the Broadcasting and Media Funds in 2025, which serves wider public service media. This year I have provided €6m for new funding supports for the media sector and next year this will increase to €10m – all of this in addition to the existing provisions for Sound and Vision – which will deliver a minimum of €22.2m for the wider sector in 2025.
This year I have provided €6m for new funding supports for the media sector and next year this will increase to €10m – all of this in addition to the existing provisions for Sound and Vision.
Provision of high quality public service media content for the Irish public is not just the preserve of RTÉ and TG4. Independent broadcasters, commercial and community radio, as well as national, regional and local press, all have a role to play.
While there has been much debate around how a stable future for RTÉ would be provided, a priority for me as Minister for Media has always been guaranteeing the future funding and restructuring of RTÉ, and that it is sustainable and acceptable to the public.
What has been agreed today provides financial stability for RTE for future years, coupled with reformed fee collection methods. This is unprecedented.
Guaranteeing that funding, that future, is an accomplishment that will serve viewers, listeners and audiences – that will serve all of our society.
Is linne ar fad RTÉ agus na meáin seirbhíse poiblí, agus anois tá a dtodhchaí ar bhonn níos cinnte ná mar a bhí riamh.