Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

It is estimated that about 250,000 households are solely reliant on the Irish analogue television network. A similar number use the network for secondary televisions. These households must change to digital by 24 October or be left without access to television. Households who only use pay television platforms, which is about 81% of households, will not be affected by analogue switch off.

In preparation for digital switch over, RTÉ was required to build and make available a new free to air digital network to 98% of the population. Its Saorview digital television service has been available nationally since May 2011. It currently provides access to free to air television to almost 98% of the population and will fulfil the full extent of its coverage obligations by 24 October 2012. For the remaining 2% of the population, RTÉ launched Saorsat in March 2012. Saorsat is a free to air satellite system providing access to RTE channels and TG4. Since March 2012, therefore, everyone in Ireland can make the switch to digital.

Equipment for both Saorview and Saorsat is readily available throughout the country. I have been informed by Saorview that over 400 retailers nationwide stock Saorview approved equipment. Saorview television equipment costs from €50 while the Saorsat set top box costs around €180. More and cheaper Saorsat equipment is anticipated. To date, over 150,000 Saorview television sets and 50,000 Saorview set top boxes have been purchased.

My Department's national digital switch over public information campaign rolled out in September 2011 and provides information on what is happening, the time lines and the different choices available to upgrade to digital. This comprehensive campaign includes advertising on television, local and national radio; an analogue marker to act as a constant reminder to everyone using the analogue service to switch to digital; a dedicated website; research; a national telephone helpline; and an information booklet delivered to every household in the country by the final week in July.

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I have also introduced an outreach programme to ensure vulnerable people receive one-to-one help in making the switch to digital. Over the same period, Saorview has been operating its own information campaign. Both campaigns will ensure that there is full awareness of digital switch over well in advance of 24 October.

Initial feedback from the outreach programme is positive; people know what is happening but they are inclined to leave switching over until very close to the switch off. This mirrors what has happened in other European countries which have successfully achieved analogue switch off. On this, Saorview is advising households to upgrade quickly because the cheaper Saorview equipment might be sold out.

I would urge any voluntary organisations to contact their local champion and become involved in the national digital switch over effort. As I made clear last Thursday at the special digital switch over briefing session to which all Oireachtas Members were invited, the date of analogue switch off will not be changed. On Wednesday, 24 October this year, 120 days from now, the analogue system will cease to operate. I am confident that, by the switch off date, as a result of the national information and the Saorview campaigns and the outreach programme that is now in place, everyone will be fully aware that the analogue network is closing down on 24 October 2012 and of their switch over options.

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