The Government has announced that the Irish language television station, TG4, will become an independent statutory body from the beginning of April 2007.

Responding to the decision Cathal Goan, RTÉ Director General, and the first Ceannasaí of the Irish language channel, said: "TG4 has resided within the RTÉ Group since the initial Government decision to establish the service was made in 1994, and it is appropriate that in the period approaching the 10th anniversary of its going on air a decision on its future has been taken by Government."

He continued: "RTÉ has, for a number of years, stressed the importance of a policy decision that would ensure TG4's future and financial security. The annual provision of Irish language programming from RTÉ to TG4 (365 hours) has enhanced the channel's output and has been a key part of its success. In particular, the daily Nuacht TG4 service has provided an anchor for the programme schedule and a daily visible manifestation of the "súil eile" approach to news gathering and processing, providing an attractively different and differentiated view of current affairs."

He added: "We look forward to continuing that support and wish our colleagues the best in this next step in the evolution of Irish language television broadcasting."

In its statement tonight, RTÉ said it was conscious that many challenges remained for TG4 in the immediate future and that it would work appropriately with TG4 on all shared objectives.

RTÉ said it would participate fully in the Project Management Group being established by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey, to ensure that the station was ready to operate independently by April 2007.

Commenting, Minister Dempsey said: "TG4 is considered one of the great success stories of Irish broadcasting and has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 1996, and the station continues to win major national and international awards for its programming. I am delighted to be able to announce their impending independence as they celebrate the 10th anniversary of the birth of the station."

Ceannasaí of TG4 Pól Ó Gallchóir welcomed the announcement. He said the move would ensure "the delivery of a strong channel with strong original Irish content".

He said he also welcomed RTÉ's continuing support since the station was founded and that he looked forward to RTÉ continuing to provide a half-hour news service per day as well as another half-hour programming as part of RTÉ's obligation under the Broadcasting Act 2001.