Sir, - At a recent meeting of representatives of community radio stations, it was noted with concern that the recently published Green Paper Supporting Voluntary Activity attaches little importance to the many forms of cultural expression maintained throughout the country by voluntary organisations. In particular, no mention is made of the community radio stations which make a distinctive contribution to the local communities and to the "communities of interest" of which they are a part.
The Community Radio forum represents 11 radio stations of diverse character, from rural and small town stations to stations based in suburban areas of Dublin, to stations based on university campuses. Each of them has, at any given time, upwards of 50 volunteers working as programme presenters, producers and in a wide range of support functions. The total turnover of these stations, generated through state-funded training schemes, sponsorship, advertising and donations comes to over £500,000.
By any standards, this amounts to a significant slice of voluntary and community activity. More importantly, however, the community radio stations contribute strongly to community development and to the enlargement of participatory democracy, two of the key concepts underlying the Green Paper.
We are pleased that Dermot Ahern, Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs plans to initiate formally a process of consultation on the Green Paper. We urge him to give due recognition to the part being played by voluntary and community action in the cultural sphere, including community broadcasting. - Yours, etc.,
Mary Ruddy,
Station Co-ordinator with Connemara Community Radioon behalf of the Community Radios Forum, Letterfrack, Co Galway.