Chairman of the Donegal Hospice Dr James McDaid has said Highland Radio will now only get a fixed fee from a new fundraising venture between the two parties.
Chairman of the Hospice, Dr McDaid, today gave evidence in court as he applied for a license for a new bingo game.
Dr McDaid revealed that the local radio station will now get a fixed fee for the game which will not exceed 40%.
The well-known local GP said there had been previous controversy when Highland had an agreement with Rehab.
He said local people were concerned that money being raised locally was not being spent locally.
He said the Hospice committee had met with Highland and had come to an agreement.
Under the new agreement Highland will get a fixed fee which will not exceed 40% of the first 1,600 bingo books sold.
However, he said the Donegal Hospice now hoped to increase the sale of bingo books from 1,600 to 2,500.
Dr McDaid also referred to the fact that the Hospice was in “dire need” of financial assistance.
Highland ended their association with Rehab on May 2nd.
The radio station had applied to the Letterkenny District Court for a bingo license several weeks ago, with the station saying it wanted to earn €52,000-a-year profits from “running costs” and giving the rest to the Donegal Hospice.
Judge Paul Kelly had asked radio station director Hazel Russell at a previous hearing to provide a break-down of its proposed figures.
He also told her that no more than 40 per cent of cash generated could be spent on administration.
Ms Russell revealed the station would charge €25 every time bingo numbers were read out, and this happened eight times per day. This would amount to €1,000 per week – or €52,000 per annum – as bingo was played five times per week.
But Ms Russell later returned to the same court to say the license application was being withdrawn.
At today’s court sitting, Judge Paul Kelly granted the new license and wished Dr McDaid and the Donegal Hospice the best of luck with the new venture.
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