ELEVEN pilot community radio stations have been offered a one year extension to their contracts by the Independent Radio and Television Commission. Its chief executive, Mr Michael O'Keeffe, said yesterday the commission was pleased with the stations' progress. The extension will bring them to the end of next year.
Mr O'Keeffe said he expected an evaluation report on the community radio idea to be ready by mid 1997. The commission would then "consider its future policy in relation to the community sector". Stations could apply for the extension by providing a brief report on their development plans for next year and progress made to date by September 6th.
The stations are Community Radio Youghal, Cork Campus Radio in Cork, Dublin South Community Radio, Dublin Weekend Radio, Near 101.5 FM, Nine Eleven FM, and West Dublin Community Radio in Dublin, Connemara Community Radio, Flirt FM in Galway, Wired 103 FM in Limerick and Community Radio Castlebar in Mayo.