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€6-million fund earmarked for court-reporting scheme

A scheme aimed at improving court reporting is to be set up this year, with the help of a €6-million allocation from the media fund.

The scheme has been prioritized by the new media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, in order to enable improved reporting from local, regional and national courts – including coroners' courts.

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will develop the broad parameters of the scheme, according to an implementation strategy for the Future of Media Commission Report that was published this week.

Consultation

The department will work with Coimisiún na Meán on the roll-out of the scheme this year.

The regulator will carry out a detailed design of the scheme – including consultation with interested parties, such as the Courts Service, print media, and the National Union of Journalists. This is due to be completed by the end of this year.

After the scheme has been designed, the department will seek state-aid approval from the EU.

This is due to be completed by the end of this year.

After the scheme has been designed, the department will seek state-aid approval from the EU.