Coimisiún na Meán has today (17.02.2026) announced awarding €548,103 to 28 successful applicants under its new Media Skills and Development Programme.
The funding Programme will support training, learning and development activities in English and Irish in the media sector. Successful applicants reflect the broader media remit of An Coimisiún and will see a wide range of training and development opportunities which seek to upskill, maximise impact and encourage collaboration across the sector being delivered throughout Ireland this year.
Speaking about the funding announcement today, Coimisiún na Meán Media Development Commissioner Rónán Ó Domhnaill said: “Our Media Skills and Development Programme provides essential funding for the media sector and supports the delivery of high-quality learning and development opportunities for those working in broadcasting, journalism and the creative industries. We are delighted to support a wide range of organisations who will deliver training that will progress the Programme’s objectives of sustainability, capacity and upskilling across the media sector.
“We also want to see those working in the media industry thrive, so the funding will provide opportunities to access training activities that support leadership, management and professional development. Through this programme, Coimisiún na Meán continues to demonstrate its commitment to a media landscape that is sustainable, pluralistic and participative.”
In this inaugural round of funding, Coimisiún na Meán received 40 applications seeking funding support of €1.18m, which was more than double the available budget. Successful applications include training and development initiatives that will progress our strategy in areas including Irish culture, and media, including initiatives supporting the Irish language, diversity and inclusion, and democracy.
Among the successful applicants awarded funded for 2026 are:
- Catalyst Film Festival: Filmmaking for 5th & 6th class and TY students. Training will include Irish language screenwriting as well as directing and camera skills.
- Future Edge: an upskilling programme that supports creative company leaders to navigate challenges, in particular AI, and guide them to explore ethical AI opportunities to help creative companies thrive.
- Embodied Worlds: World Building Creator’s Lab: An intensive workshop that equips film professionals with cutting-edge techniques for location digitisation and virtual production. This programme emphasises methods that minimise environmental impact while maximising creative possibilities. This is part funded by Screen Ireland.
- Learning Waves training and development activities for the commercial radio sector: GEDI Lead Training and Master classes for commercial radio staff, including CEO’s, content and department managers, a Future Leader’s programme, and implementation of the Media Strong Wellbeing Charter. Learning Waves will also continue to deliver their Journalism Graduate Programme which will include providing training for graduates proficient in the Irish language.
- Local Ireland: Digital training for journalists and publishers including use of AI in newsrooms, audience analytics, and audiovisual and mobile journalism for publishers.
- Children’s Content Landscape 2026: Masterclasses covering issues such as IP development, new production models in the digital age, and AI and its impact on children’s content.
- Disability Participation News Hub: Training workshops for disabled journalists and advocates covering issues such as accessible communication, universal design and inclusive media.
- Women On Air: Voice and camera training for media across a range of platforms.
- CRAOL: Training and development activities for the community media sector. In line with the new programme focus, CRAOL’s proposal this year emphasises specific training activities, rather than broader operational support. The activities include training for station managers, revalidation of QQI accreditation for trainers, media literacy training, and governance and compliance training for Committee members.
The funding Programme which was launched last October replaces the Sectoral Learning and Development Programme that had been in operation for almost two decades.