Teilifis is na Gaeilge cannot continue operating as it does at present unless the Exchequer makes an additional £3 million available annually, according to the station's ceannasai (chief executive), Mr Cathal Goan.
Addressing the Joint Committee on Heritage and the Irish Language yesterday Mr Goan outlined the need for further financial investment by the State in the station.
TnaG is already in receipt of £10.6 million a year from the Exchequer, in addition to 360 hours of programming from RTE at no cost to the Irish-language station.
According to Mr Goan, in order to simply continue operating with the current technology, the Government will have to consider increasing the annual subvention to the station. The arrival of the new digital technologies would pose a further challenge to is na Gaeilge TnaG as well other broadcasters.
Mr Padhraic O Ciardha, Leas Ceannasai, told the committee that, while it was correct to discuss audience ratings and signal take-up, TnaG was, in essence, a vital part of public service broadcasting in Ireland.
The station was currently attracting more than 300,000 viewers a night, and its programmes had won a number of national and international awards, he said.
TnaG came on air on its own channel in October 1996 and broadcasts for more than four hours each day.