More than two years after being awarded a licence by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), Christian radio station Solas AM is still struggling to get on air.
The station has just been dealt a fresh blow with South Dublin County Council turning down its application for a 62 metre mast at Old Court Road, Rathfarnham, in south Dublin. This site is owned by the Augustinian Order.
The backers of Solas, including several religious orders, now plan to appeal this decision to An Bord Pleanála.
The directors of Solas have talked to the BCI, led by chief executive Mr Michael O'Keeffe, about getting an FM licence instead.
"We remain very optimistic about getting on air ultimately, but we feel we may have to pursue an FM licence. Religious- based stations are the norm all over Europe and there is no reason why Dublin should not have one," said Mr Declan Cronin, a director.
Solas was awarded a special-interest licence in principle by the BCI on April 30th, 2001. A spokeswoman said Solas had been trying to find a suitable site for transmission for some time and the BCI reviewed the station's efforts in April.
"They were satisfied that Solas was making all efforts possible to resolve this issue," she stated.
Solas, which hopes to fund itself by subscriptions and donations, originally hoped RTÉ might allow the station to transmit its signal from an RTÉ site in Beaumont.
However, RTÉ has told the station it is not possible to enter into such a contract. Since then, Solas has been pursuing the issue of getting an FM licence, but this does not look possible. Solas also tried to buy a site owned by Radio Tara in Co Meath.
The cost of an AM transmission mast is estimated at between €300,000 and €400,000. Mr Cronin said the BCI was aware of its difficulties and contact was ongoing.
"We believe the station could attract a large audience. For example, the biggest station in Portugal is a station with a religious ethos," he said.
Several business people and media experts are in support of the station, said Mr Cronin. Among the directors of Solas are former GAA president Mr Jack Boothman and Mr Michael Carroll, a former RTÉ director of programmes.
