Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
230. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has any plans to assist the free newspaper publishers of Ireland, who perform a very important function in society; if she would be prepared to meet the sector’s main representative body (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49781/23]
View answerI recognise the significant challenges faced by the print news sector in particular, which are in part due to the increased digitalisation of news and media content generally and the associated decline in advertising revenue as a consequence.
The print media sector is undergoing a profound change and Government acknowledges that assistance is needed to preserve and support a diverse, vibrant and independent media sector, which is essential for our society, democracy and cultural development.
The Report of the Future of Media Commission examined the difficult challenges faced by the print news sector, which includes free newspapers, and made a number of recommendations to counter these challenges and to support our print news sector.
One recommendation made by the Future of Media Commission was the establishment of a new Media Fund to provide support to the wider media and journalism sector at local, regional and national levels on a platform neutral basis. The Media Fund is being established on an administrative basis, with the Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Schemes being prioritised for implementation. The detailed design of the Schemes is currently being undertaken by Coimisiún na Meán and, subject to State Aid approval, they will commence in 2024. As the schemes are to be administered on a platform neutral basis, the free newspaper sector will be eligible to apply for funding from the schemes once established.
The representative body referred to by the Deputy is a member of the Future of Media Commission Stakeholder Consultative Forum and I am advised that my officials have met with this group as part of the development of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and the Courts Reporting Scheme. My officials will continue to engage with these members and indeed with all stakeholders through the appropriate channels, while monitoring developments in the print news sector.
