Coimisiún na Meán awards nearly €4 million of funding under latest round of Sound & Vision Scheme

Round 54 allocation supports production of content focusing on the voices of new Irish communities.

• Over €3.9 million in funding allocated for Round 54, with 35 projects funded covering drama, documentary, entertainment and educational programming for broadcast on TV and Radio

• 97% of funding has been allocated to independent producers, with €1.4 million of all funding going to projects in the Irish language or bilingual

• Additional €2 million funding secured by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to support content focusing on the voices of immigrant and new Irish Communities.

Coimisiún na Meán has today (14.11.24) announced the awarding of over €3.9 million of funding under the latest round of the Sound & Vision Scheme. Round 54 will fund the production of 35 projects across TV and radio by independent producers and broadcasters around the country. 97% of total funding as part of Round 54 has been provided to independent producers and approximately €1.4 million of all funding going to projects in the Irish language or bilingual.

Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán said ‘’Coimisiún na Meán is committed to ensuring a diversity and plurality of content, reflective of the people of Ireland including their languages, traditions, religious, and cultural diversity. We are delighted to have an opportunity to support projects which give a voice to this diversity. This round of Sound and Vision will raise awareness of, and explore, the unique experiences and cultural values of new Irish communities while delivering a diverse range of high-quality culturally relevant content for audiences.

I would also like to thank Minister Catherine Martin for the allocation of an additional €2 million in funding. Sound & Vision remains a vital funding source for broadcasters and independent producers, enabling them to create programming for audiences that would otherwise not get made.”

Projects funded under Round 54 of the Sound & Vision Scheme include:

• Welcome To Moore Street – This series, for broadcast on RTÉ One is a window into the heart of modern day Ireland where things simply aren't 'black and white'. This series is not about immigration, rather it gives a fascinating insight into the lives of both ‘old’ and ‘new’ Irish who are fighting to make a living here in Dublin’s north inner city.

• My Ireland Too – In this documentary series, for broadcast on Virgin Media Television young asylum seekers and migrants in the Cork area navigate the challenges of building new lives amidst a sinister rise of discrimination and racist sentiment, representing an honest and authentic view of the migrant experience in Ireland.

• Bia Úr – This presenter-led documentary series for TG4 introduces audiences to the cultures and traditions of new and exciting foods through the stories of people who have made Ireland home.

• Mo Shaol, Do Shaol – This thirteen-part children’s entertainment series returns to Cúla4 for the 4th time, as young viewers get a taste of the major events celebrated by new Irish communities.

• Joy to the World – This radio documentary series for KCLR 96FM celebrates Christmas with immigrant and New Irish Communities by joining in with their traditions, music, preparations, decorations, foods and exchanges of gifts

• Mmanwu – This radio drama for broadcast on Newstalk delves into the complexities of maternal struggle, mental health, and the clash between tradition and modernity set against the vibrant backdrop of Dublin and Onitsha, Nigeria.

• Voices of New Ireland – This thirteen part series for broadcast on Flirt FM explores cultural heritage, the Irish language, education, arts, and more, highlighting community achievements and integration through diverse cultures that shape modern Ireland.

44 applications requesting over €4.3 million were submitted for consideration under Round 54 of the Sound & Vision Scheme and just over €3.9 million of funding awarded.

Approximately 35% of the recommended funding will support the production of Irish/Bilingual projects, and there are projects featuring a variety of other languages due to the nature of the Round. 97% of the funding (over €3.8 million) goes directly to the independent production sector. Round 54 consists of funding from the television licence fee, and funding of €2 million secured by Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media.