The government has decided to waive the levy applied to local radio broadcasters for the first six months of this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The role of local radio, such as Galway Bay FM and others, in providing trusted information to their community was highlighted by Minister Richard Bruton in announcing the decision this week.
Galway East TD Seán Canney welcomed the move saying that local broadcasters “perform a valuable community service, no more so than now when we are in the midst of a crisis.”
He added that they two will be hurt by the crisis, experiencing “a loss of business as a result of the consequent reduction in economic activity and advertising revenue in particular.”
“Our local radio stations are a trusted source of news and information and they deserve to be supported in this way,” Deputy Canney said.
Minister Bruton said that he has requested that the Broadcast Authority of Ireland implement the waiver, which it’s expected will save local stations almost €1 million between them for the six month period.
This is just one of a range of measures which have been announced in the past week to support businesses which have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
