One More Thing:We're all for the promotion of the Irish language but we can't help wondering if the taxpayer is getting value for money from TG4.
The Spiddal-based television station is to get an extra €4.7 million from the exchequer in 2008, bringing its budget to €36.6 million. That's a generous increase of 15 per cent from Minister for Finance Brian Cowen.
According to the Department of Communications, this will help "move it towards its goal of broadcasting six hours of Irish-language material daily".
Presuming it achieves that target, TG4 will broadcast 2,190 hours of Irish programming next year.
That equates to about €16,700 an hour for Irish programming. It seems rather a lot to show tennis from Wimbledon as Gaeilge or football matches from the Eircom League that attract small audiences.
TG4 says it attracts 800,000 viewers a day but many of these tune in because the station's timetable is liberally sprinkled with English-language programming, including The Virginian, South Park, Two and a Half Men and late-night flicks.
In the post-Budget analysis yesterday, Labour's communications spokeswoman, Liz McManus, described TG4's funding arrangement to The Irish Times as "rather peculiar".
The station gained its independence from RTÉ in April but continues to rely on State funding.
"It raises issues about the future of the station and how it will be incorporated into the [ soon-to-be-established] Broadcasting Authority of Ireland," McManus said.
