Independent local radio stations have played a huge role during the pandemic and must be protected That's according to Micheál Martin who says funding will be made available to stations from the Sound and Vision scheme. Representative body Independent Broadcasters of Ireland have regularly warned that the very existence of independent radio is under threat and has called local journalism to be protected. They have called for a strategy to be implemented to allow it to fulfil its public sector mandate. The sector was rocked by pay cuts and layoffs caused by a fall in advertising revenue at the start of the pandemic.