The media watchdog Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM) has officially launched a new scheme aimed at boosting coverage of court hearings across the country.

A separate initiative designed to increase coverage of local authorities has also been launched.

A total of €6 million has been allocated to fund the two journalism schemes this year.

The guidelines for the Courts Reporting Scheme say that its main purpose is to fund “comprehensive, professional, and publicly accessible reports of court proceedings at a local and regional level”.

Pilot basis

The initiative is focused on coverage of proceedings in the District and Circuit Courts and does not apply to coverage of the higher courts.

The closing date for applications is 17 September (12 noon).

Rónán Ó Domhnaill (CnaM’s media-development commissioner) said that the new schemes were being introduced on a pilot basis and would be reviewed subsequently, with feedback received and the stakeholder engagement contributing to the development of future funding initiatives and schemes.

All content funded will be made freely available to the public, not less than seven days after its initial publication, and will be uploaded by CnaM to its website.