Licensing Notices

Commercial Sound Broadcasting Service

In accordance with section 67(3) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 as amended (“the Act”), Coimisiún na Meán (“An Coimisiún”) hereby states its intention to proceed to invoke the fast-track licensing procedure under section 67(6) of the Act for the award of the sound broadcasting contract (“Contract”) for the provision of the following sound broadcasting service on the FM band:

Quasi-national speech and news sound broadcasting service targeting all adults

The Contract, currently held by the incumbent, Bauer Media Audio Ireland, and broadcasting as Newstalk, is due to expire on 31 December 2026.

An Coimisiún proposes to award a further contract for this franchise area for a period of ten (10) years to commence from 1 January 2027 and to continue until 31 December 2037.

Any person other than the incumbent interested in providing this sound broadcasting service is required to submit in writing that they wish to apply for the award of the Contract and to deposit the sum of €25,000 with An Coimisiún by 2 April 2026. Such a deposit is refundable if an application for the award of the Contract is subsequently submitted to An Coimisiún in accordance with section 65 of the Act

The written submission must be completed in accordance with the format set out in the Guide to Submissions: Statement of Intent for a Sound Broadcasting Contract for the provision of a Quasi-National Speech and News Service (PDF) document, which is available on An Coimisiún’s website www.cnam.ie or on request from An Coimisiún by email [email protected] or by phone 01 644 1200. A Form for the Statement of Intent (Word) is also available on An Coimisiún’s website. The completed Form / written submission must be submitted to An Coimisiún by 2 April 2026.

Please note that submitting a Statement of Intent in response to this notice will not be regarded as an application for the Contract. An invitation to apply for the award of the Contract in accordance with Section 65(8) of the Act will be issued separately if An Coimisiún considers it appropriate to do so. A submission of a Statement of Intent for the award of the Contract should be sent to:

Broadcast Licensing
Coimisiún na Meán,
1 Shelbourne Buildings,
Shelbourne Road,
Dublin 4, D04 NP20.
T: 01 6441200,
E: [email protected]

Cuireann an Coimisiún fáilte roimh chomhfhreagras i nGaeilge.

Community Sound Broadcasting Service

In accordance with section 65(8) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”), Coimisiún na Meán (“the Commission”) hereby invites applications in writing from persons interested in securing a sound broadcasting contract for the provision of the following sound broadcasting service on the FM band:

Community Sound Broadcasting Service (Irish Language) for Dublin City

Programming on the service should be community-focused, specifically address the interests of, and seek to provide a social benefit to, the community in the specified area. The service should be owned and controlled by a not-for-profit organisation whose structure provides for membership, management and operation primarily by members of the community.

An applicant must be representative of, and accountable to, the community to be served by the sound broadcasting service.

Attention is drawn to the relevant criteria laid down in Section 64 and Section 66 of the 2009 Act and to the duties that will be imposed on the successful applicant under the various provisions of the 2009 Act.

Applications (Word) for the community sound broadcasting contract must be completed in accordance with the detailed format prescribed in the Commission’s Guide to Applications for a Sound Broadcasting Contract for the provision of a Community Sound Broadcasting Service for Dublin City (“the Guide”) (PDF). The Guide also contains other relevant information in respect of the application procedure and is available on our website or on request from the Commission’s offices.

The closing date for the submission of applications is 5pm on Tuesday, 9 June 2026. Applicants should note that the Commission reserves the right not to award a contract.

Completed applications should be sent to:

Oisín Kelly,
Licensing Manager,
Coimisiún na Meán,
1 Shelbourne Buildings,
Shelbourne Road,
Dublin 4, D04 NP20.
T: 01 6441200,
E: [email protected]

Cuireann an Coimisiún fáilte roimh chomhfhreagras i nGaeilge.

Community Sound Broadcasting Service for West Limerick, including Abbeyfeale, Foynes, Rathkeale, Newcastle West, and Broadford

Programming on the service should be community-focused, specifically address the interests of, and seek to provide a social benefit to, the community in the specified area. The service should be owned and controlled by a not-for-profit organisation whose structure provides for membership, management and operation primarily by members of the community.

An applicant must be representative of, and accountable to, the community to be served by the sound broadcasting service.

Attention is drawn to the relevant criteria laid down in Section 64 and Section 66 of the 2009 Act and to the duties that will be imposed on the successful applicant under the various provisions of the 2009 Act.

Applications (Word) for the community sound broadcasting contract must be completed in accordance with the detailed format prescribed in the Commission’s Guide to Applications for a Sound Broadcasting Contract for the provision of a Community Sound Broadcasting Service for West Limerick (“the Guide”) (PDF), which also contains other relevant information in respect of the application procedure, is available on the Commission’s website (www.cnam.ie) or on request from the Commission’s offices.

The closing date for submission of applications is 5pm on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. Applicants should note that the Commission reserves the right not to award a contract.

Completed applications should be sent to:

Kerrie Costello,
Licensing Manager,
Coimisiún na Meán,
1 Shelbourne Buildings,
Shelbourne Road,
Dublin 4, D04 NP20.
T: 01 6441200,
E: [email protected]

Cuireann an Coimisiún fáilte roimh chomhfhreagras i nGaeilge.

Community Sound Broadcasting Service for Lucan and its environs in County Dublin

Programming on the service should be community-focused, specifically address the interests of, and seek to provide a social benefit to, the community in the specified area. The service should be owned and controlled by a not-for-profit organisation whose structure provides for membership, management and operation primarily by members of the community.

An applicant must be representative of, and accountable to, the community to be served by the sound broadcasting service.

Attention is drawn to the relevant criteria laid down in Section 64 and Section 66 of the 2009 Act and to the duties that will be imposed on the successful applicant under the various provisions of the 2009 Act.

Applications (Word) for the community sound broadcasting contract must be completed in accordance with the detailed format prescribed in the Commission’s Guide to Applications for a Sound Broadcasting Contract for the provision of a Community Sound Broadcasting Service for Lucan and its environs in County Dublin (“the Guide”) (PDF). The Guide also contains other relevant information in respect of the application procedure and is available on the Commission’s website (www.cnam.ie) or on request from the Commission’s offices.

The closing date for the submission of applications is 5pm on Thursday, 14 May 2026. Applicants should note that the Commission reserves the right not to award a contract.

Completed applications should be sent to:

Kerrie Costello,
Licensing Manager,
Coimisiún na Meán,
1 Shelbourne Buildings,
Shelbourne Road,
Dublin 4, D04 NP20.
T: 01 6441200,
E: [email protected]

Cuireann an Coimisiún fáilte roimh chomhfhreagras i nGaeilge.

Community Sound Broadcasting Service for Dublin City

Programming on the service should be community-focused, specifically address the interests of, and seek to provide a social benefit to, the community in the specified area. The service should be owned and controlled by a not-for-profit organisation whose structure provides for membership, management and operation primarily by members of the community.

An applicant must be representative of, and accountable to, the community to be served by the sound broadcasting service.

Attention is drawn to the relevant criteria laid down in Section 64 and Section 66 of the 2009 Act and to the duties that will be imposed on the successful applicant under the various provisions of the 2009 Act.

Applications (Word) for the community sound broadcasting contract must be completed in accordance with the detailed format prescribed in the Commission’s Guide to Applications for a Sound Broadcasting Contract for the provision of a Community Sound Broadcasting Service for Dublin City (“the Guide”) (PDF). The Guide also contains other relevant information in respect of the application procedure and is available on the Commission’s website (www.cnam.ie) or on request from the Commission’s offices.

The closing date for the submission of applications is 5pm on Friday, 29 May 2026. Applicants should note that the Commission reserves the right not to award a contract.

Completed applications should be sent to:

Oisín Kelly,
Licensing Manager,
Coimisiún na Meán,
1 Shelbourne Buildings,
Shelbourne Road,
Dublin 4, D04 NP20.
T: 01 6441200,
E: [email protected]

Cuireann an Coimisiún fáilte roimh chomhfhreagras i nGaeilge.