"This research project was undertaken with the purpose of exploring the ways in which government mandated programme production schemes may contribute to the capacities and sustainability of the community radio sector. The study involved a critical policy analysis of the Irish Sound and Vision Scheme as well as an international comparative analysis of funding schemes as organised in five other jurisdictions [...] The five jurisdictions that were selected for comparison were Austria, Canada, Denmark, France and New Zealand. The choice of schemes was shaped by the ‘method of agreement’ principle, which allows for the selection of varied national contexts (political culture and longevity of scheme, etc.) combined with the relative comparative nature of the policy under consideration. It is important to note the structural differences between the funding schemes. In Denmark, France and Canada the schemes were initiated as dedicated community media/radio production funds and legislation and policy evolved accordingly. In Austria the scheme was legislated for and developed as a dedicated community broadcasting production fund alongside a dedicated fund for the commercial broadcasting sector. In New Zealand the scheme was legislated for as a generic ‘local content’ production fund (open to community, commercial and public television and radio broadcasters) and adapted to enable a dedicated funding policy for access/community radio production within the wider scheme. In Ireland the scheme originated from legislation for a ‘national content’ production fund, open to broadcasters (community, commercial and public) and independent producers. The scheme is ‘generic’ and open to all of these sectors and is thus not a dedicated community media scheme, nor does it contain a separate scheme for community media production funding." (Executive summary, pages v-vi)