Furthermore, feedback from the national digital switchover outreach programme, which I established earlier this year, is positive; people know what is taking place but they are inclined to leave switching over until close to the switch-off date. This mirrors what has happened in other European countries which have successfully achieved analogue switch-off.

While the recent research figures are encouraging and the indications are that viewers are making the switch in big numbers, there are still 100,000 households that have yet to make the switch. With only 13 days to go, I call on the public and Deputies to give a helping hand to friends, relatives and neighbours who may need assistance with the switch to ensure they are not without a television signal after 10 a.m. on Wednesday 24 October.

I remind people that regardless of the digital switchover, there is a statutory obligation to hold a television licence. The digital switchover does not change this statutory fact. For those people who do not make the switch to digital before 24 October, the supports provided by the national digital switchover campaign - namely, the national telephone helpline, the national outreach programme and the website - will remain in place for several weeks following 24 October. In addition, Saorview equipment and assistance will also be available after the analogue switch-off. However, I call on people to make the switch before 24 October to ensure they do not lose television access.

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