New head of TG4 promises to seek larger subvention

The new head of TG4, Mr Pol O Gallchoir, says he is no "safe pair of hands" and has promised to push for a greater financial commitment by the Government to the television station.

The "year-to-year" basis on which the station is currently funded precludes long-term planning and commissioning, Mr O Gallchoir, outgoing head of Raidio na Gaeltachta, told The Irish Times last week.

Alternating between the two desks in Casla and Baile na hAbhann in Connemara, Mr O Gallchoir

was speaking in Galway's Town Hall Theatre before he performed one of his last official functions as head, or ceannaire, of Raidio na Gaeltachta - the inception of the radio station's 24-hour Internet broadcasting.

The live Internet link will allow Irish speakers around the world to keep in touch, and the station also plans to broadcast round-the-clock on 92.6 and 94.4 FM.

It is broadcasting for 16.5 hours a day at present, from 6.30 a.m. to 11 p.m. The web link was publicised by Ms Eadaoin Ni Challarain, Irish Olympic slalom canoeist from Spiddal, who has received sponsorship from the radio station for her trip to Sydney later this year.

Mr O Gallchoir said he looked forward to his switch from radio to television, and intended to continue the work done by his predecessor, Mr Cathal Goan, in securing long-term funding, particularly given the advent of digital transmission. He would also be seeking a commitment on TG4's establishment as an independent entity.

He was fortunate, he said, to be joining "a great team" working in TG4. "From day one, they started on a green-field site and physically built a television station. They are running a full schedule, with limited resources and [had] an awful lot of difficulties at the beginning."

"It is a fantastic achievement," he said. "We have about £14 million in State funding and RTE provides one hour of Irish per day. TG4 has six hours a day - three hours for adults and three hours for children. Some 300 people are employed `as Gaeilge' and another 300 `as Bearla' in a thriving independent sector."

Mr O Gallchoir acknowledges that his appointment was something of a "surprise", given the stiff competition for the post - with several highly experienced candidates coming from within TG4, and no shortage of talent within RTE. A native of Gaoth Dobhair in Co Donegal, he is a graduate of politics and history taken at NUI Galway, and joined the RTE newsroom in 1980. He was regional manager for Raidio na Gaeltachta in Donegal from 1987 to 1994, and was appointed ceannaire four years ago. He is married with three children and lives in Galway.

The speedy announcement of his appointment last month after a short interviewing process is said to have been met with "astonishment" out in Baile na hAbhann. There were rumours of resignations at senior level, but it is expected that several promotions are now imminent. "Unsettled" is how one observer describes the atmosphere, while another describes it as a "sharp reminder" of reality. "TG4 now realises that it is just another State body." Mr O Gallchoir E" during his time there.said: "I will give everything I have to TG4."