From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, today announced €10.5 million in additional funding for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s (BAI) Sound and Vision scheme in 2022.
This new funding will enable the BAI to initiate a special €5 million round for broadcasting projects which will raise awareness of climate change, promote climate action and support behavioural change. It includes €2.5 million approved by the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan.
In addition, the Minister has asked the BAI to ring-fence €2 million for live music broadcasting projects, and a further €2 million for Irish language broadcasting content. The additional funding provided by the Minister also enabled the BAI to allocate an extra €1.5 million to projects under Round 42 of Sound and Vision.
As part of the Climate Action Plan 2021, the government committed to supporting the development of media content which raises awareness of climate change, and promotes action and behavioural change to combat it. As such, €5 million is now being provided to the BAI for a Sound and Vision round to support the development of such content and programming. This is being co-funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Speaking today, Minister Martin said:
“Tackling climate change has always been a top priority for me and I am proud to fulfil this Climate Action Plan 2021 commitment. Sound and Vision funding will create programming that improves climate literacy and promotes climate change mitigation.
"It is essential that we inform people of the threats posed by climate change and bring people on board with measures to tackle it. This Sound and Vision programming will show people what is happening to our climate and how to stop it.”
Commenting on the funding, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, said:
“To achieve our climate ambitions, we will all need to change how we work; heat our homes; travel; consume goods and services; and manage our waste. By improving climate literacy, we will enable people to make changes in their daily lives and engage with climate action at a local and national level.
"I am delighted that my department is contributing €2.5 million to the funding of this special climate round of the Sound and Vision Scheme. Through the expertise of the BAI, and the vision of Ireland’s programme makers, we can ensure a range of innovative and creative programming to bring climate awareness, literacy, and empowerment into homes across the country.”
€2 million is being provided under the Sound and Vision scheme to support live music broadcasting projects.
Minister Martin said:
"I am delighted to allocate this funding for live music broadcasting projects. Last year, additional funding of €1.4 million which I provided to the BAI supported 8 exciting live music projects, such as Irish Music Month and the New Local Hero award. I look forward to many more such exciting projects being developed this year through the support I am announcing today.”
The Minister continued:
"Music is very important to me personally and to the Irish people, and it is essential that we give musicians every opportunity to perform for an audience. Notwithstanding the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the continued support of Government to this sector is vital as it journeys through these difficult times. This additional funding complements the €50 million support package for the Live Performance sector in general which I announced in December last year."
Of the funding announced today, €2 million will be allocated to Irish Language content production this year. This will help fulfil the Programme for Government’s commitment to Irish and the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language.
In welcoming the BAI’s agreement to the ring-fencing of this funding, Minister Martin said:
"I have always been a strong champion of the Irish language. In last October’s budget, I secured an extra €4.2 million for TG4, the largest ever single increase in the broadcaster’s history, and the government also provided another €1 million for Irish language content production in Northern Ireland.
"I am delighted to be able to allocate a further €2 million to create high quality Irish language programming through the Sound and Vision scheme, and I look forward to watching and listening to the content this extra funding will deliver."
The funding announced today is in addition to statutory Sound and Vision scheme funding, which is financed from 7% of net TV Licence receipts.
Full details of the Sound and Vision scheme (and all successful projects) are available on the BAI website at www.bai.ie. This includes details of awards made under Round 42, under which additional allocations of €1.5 million were made on foot of the extra funding being announced today.
The scope of the funding initiative for the Climate Action and Climate Change round is being finalised by BAI in collaboration with officials from Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and full details, including how to apply for the funding announced today will be available on the BAI website in late May.
It is intended that the Irish Language and Live Music Rounds will be opened by BAI during the summer and full details will be available on the BAI website the rounds open for applications.