The government is being asked to make €15 million available from the new broadcasting charge for the independent sector.

The charge comes into effect next year and is expected to raise in the region of €200 million from 1.7 million households.

The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications earlier.

Independent radio is 25 years old this year and employs around 1,500 people in 34 stations. The sector has an audience of over 2.5 million people on a daily basis.

The number of people listening to radio in Ireland is higher than in any other country in the European Union.

The IBI says the while the previous Minister for Communications - Pat Rabbitte - recognised the public service role played by IBI members that he "did absolutely nothing to change the current funding structures which sees RTÉ received taxpayers money supposedly to pay for the public service it provides, but in reality the license fee has been propping up the loss making 2FM".

2FM has received some €12 million in funds, IBI says.

The group is hopeful the new Communications Minister, Alex White, will change this under the new Public Service Broadcasting Charge.

Chairman of IBI John Purcell says they are going to the government with a costed and transparent plan.