Minister Announces Breakdown Of Funding To Help Local Radio Maintain Services

The broadcasting levy paid by local radio stations to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland will be waived for the first six months of the year.

The Communications Minister has announced funding of 2 and a half million euro for the commercial independent radio sector.

Richard Bruton says local and independent radio stations have a crucial role to play in responding to the Covid 19 pandemic.

It's after he announced earlier this week the Broadcasting Levy payable by the radio sector would be waived for the first six months of the year, saving local radio and independent stations around 1 million euro.

Independent radio stations will receive up to 95,000 euro each to help them deal with the coronavirus crisis.

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland says the fund will help stations to cope with a dramatic fall in advertising revenue recently.