The number of people speaking Irish has risen by some 140,000 since TG4 began broadcasting almost nine years ago, a report published today claims.
However, Analysis of the Independent Television Production Sector as it applies to TG4, warns that unless Government funding for the station is increased, it will not be able to provide original, indigenous Irish language programming.
The report, commissioned by Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) and supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta, recommends the Government increase funding for the station from €30 million up to 2005 to €44 million up until 2008.
The report outlines how the Irish language station was originally established to run for only two hours per day, and then increased output to 19 hours per day, but that Government funding had increased only marginally.
The chairman of Screen Producers Ireland, Mr Larry Bass, said: "Current levels of funding have increased the pressure on TG4's budget and increasingly independent producers are being forced away from TG4 and Irish language programming.
"Margins are becoming so tight that they simply can't survive . . . the number of independent producers living and working in Gaeltacht areas has decreased by 30 per cent in just three years".
Among the other key recommendations in the report are that TG4 should spend at least 80 per cent of any additional funding on commissioning more Irish language programming and better prices for producers; and that a dedicated fund to support producers of Irish language programming should be set up.