The Government will shortly consider proposals to establish Irish language television station TG4 on an independent footing, Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey has said.
TG4 operates under the statutory umbrella of RTÉ. The station sources its programmes from independent production companies as well as from RTÉ.
In February 2005, the Government appointed consultants Deloitte and Touche and solicitors William Fry to help the Department of Communications prepare a plan for the establishment of TG4 as an independent statutory body.
Speaking in Co Galway yesterday, where he visited TG4, Mr Dempsey said that the new status was unlikely to be finalised by the station's 10th birthday this autumn but proposals for Government were close to being finalised.
"I have examined the consultants' report on the implementation plan for the establishment of TG4 as an independent organisation and have formulated my proposals, which I hope to circulate shortly to Government."
TG4 is currently the eighth most popular station in the country, and its share of viewing for the first four months of the year was 3.4 per cent. This is an increase on last year's annual figure of 3.2 per cent.
Live coverage of the first Ladies International Rules Test Series between Ireland and Australia and a special edition of soap Ros na Rún are among events planned for the anniversary, along with issue of a commemorative stamp by An Post.
In a related development, independent film company Telegael said that there is no threat to the future of the new teenage drama series that it is making in Irish in the Corman Studios, adjoining TG4. The studios, which the Minister also visited yesterday, are being sold, but Telegael has a special arrangement to film the first series of Aifric on the premises.
