The P.J. O'Connor awards are to be continued into the next millennium and the prize fund will be doubled, totalling £4,500.
The competition is for new half-hour plays written specifically for radio. It commemorates the late head of drama at RTE, Mr P.J. O'Connor, and seeks to encourage new writers to the medium and to increase awareness of the possibilities and scope of radio in the field of drama.
The first prize is for £2,000 and runners-up will receive £1,500 and £1,000. There will be professional productions of the best three plays and workshops for all writers displaying potential.
The winners will be announced next April.