88. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on his engagement with Coimisiún na Meán regarding the broadcasting levy on independent radio stations. [74751/26]

There is a long-standing principle that costs of regulation are met by regulated sectors themselves, and therefore, the Broadcasting Act provides for the imposition by Coimisiún na Meán of levies to meet the costs of its full range of statutory functions and duties.

Furthermore, the Act vests authority and responsibility for such a levy in Coimisiún na Meán, and as such as Minister, I have no role in approving the proposed income or expenditure of Coimisiún na Meán, or importantly in the setting of the annual levy for any category of regulated entities, including that of sound broadcasting.

I have, however, met Coimisiún na Meán in order to seek clarity regarding their approach to implementing their statutory responsibilities in this regard.  It was also an opportunity for me to impress upon them the need to take the opportunity to more clearly communicate such matters to their stakeholders and the wider public, and also consider how the levy can in future be formulated to avoid placing an unnecessary burden on the sector.

In formulating its annual levies, Coimisiún na Meán is required to ensure that the levies are such an amount so as to meet all expenses properly incurred in the period, and is also required to ensure proportionality in attribution of expenses and application of levies across relevant categories of regulated service providers or entities. An Coimisiún must also have regard to a number of factors in setting the levy including the financing of a service provider and the nature and scale of its services.

It is important to note that Government has put in place  supports for the independent media sector over the past number of years, including targeted funding to support independent radio in Ireland. Between 2020 and 2025, funding support to the commercial radio sector amounted to over €13m.  Already this year the independent radio sector has been awarded approx. €7m under various funding schemes, nearly double the total amount of the radio levy for 2026.