The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI), the body of the industry, has requested the government for a €6.1 million State aid to address challenges in news and current affairs broadcasting. Local radio stations, which are favoured by seven out of every ten people in Ireland, are warning of a looming crisis in recruiting and retaining reporters and production staff. The IBI has made a proposal to Jack Chambers, the Minister for Finance, ahead of his first budget, seeking average short-term grants of €6.1 million per station to help tackle these issues.
The IBI is advocating for a €6.1 million grant system set up by the government to assist in job retention, wage payments, and operational costs, specifically for news and current affairs broadcasting. This scheme would last for a year starting from November. The proposal entails an equal share of the grant among the country’s 34 independent stations. The purpose of these funds would be to offer the industry a lifeline until more long-term solutions can be implemented.
The IBI has projected that the requested amount would comprise a mere 3.4 per cent of the current broadcast funding provided through existing programmes run by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. These funds would be utilised by local stations to supplement up to 80% of the average industrial earnings for both new and experienced journalists and production staff.
Michael Kelly, CEO of the IBI, has highlighted that although the government is about to finalize substantial license fee funding for RTÉ, no such support has been offered for independent radio stations, despite their similar obligations. The IBI calls for an urgent need for equitable conditions in independent broadcasting and believes the government could accept their “reasonable and proportionate” proposals without jeopardising RTÉ or any other sector.
In addition, the IBI is also seeking to reform the broadcasting levy, which it perceives as an “unfair burden”, especially since independent stations seem to pay a higher proportion of this fee in comparison to RTÉ and social media firms. The organisation is prepared to collaborate with the newly formed State body, Coimisiún na Meán, to devise an alternative but cautions against the continuation of the current conditions.
Mr Kelly highlighted that over 1,200 individuals are employed by 34 standalone radio stations. He stated, “Our sector urgently requires tailored financial aid.”