Dáil debates

Thursday, 12 May 2011

3:00 pm

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 6: To ask the an Aire Cumarsáide; Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha céard atá beartaithe aige i ndáil leis an 120 crann cumarsáide atá le tréigean ag RTÉ tar éis 2012; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [10825/11]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware, the remit and obligations of RTE, as an independent national public service broadcaster, are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 114 of that Act sets out the principal objects and associated powers of RTE. Section 98 provides that it "shall be independent in the pursuance of its objects", subject to the requirements of the Act. Therefore, as Minister I have no function in RTE's general day-to-day operations, including matters relating to the management of its broadcasting infrastructure. Having said that, I have contacted RTE to seek the information requested by Deputy Ó Fearghaíl. RTE has advised that some of the sites which will not be used for digital terrestrial television are in use for other services, such as radio services, or are leased to telecommunications operators. RTE will continue to use them after the analogue switch-off takes place. Most of the other sites are owned by third parties. I understand that RTE plans to decommission its television equipment from these sites as soon as the analogue signals have been switched off.

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for the information he has provided. He has basically answered Deputy Ó Fearghaíl's question. Bhí sé ag iarraidh a fháil amach an mbeidh na crainn cumarsáide agus tarchuradóirí seo ar fáil do na comhlachtaí sin. Can I take it that the Minister has been reassured by RTE that these sites will continue to be available for other purposes? Will they be available to radio stations, emergency blue-light services and telephone companies? If these masts were to become unavailable, it would interfere with the daily lives of those who depend on them for the provision of services. Can I take it the Minister, who has general responsibility for communications, will ensure these sites continue to be available to those who need them in order to provide services to the public?

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Deputy is right to suggest that these are valuable State assets. There are crainn cumarsáide at 149 locations, but just 51 locations are needed to transmit digital terrestrial television. That does not mean it is as simple as subtracting one from the other. Quite a few of these facilities are used for other purposes. I assure the Deputy there is no question of interfering with other functions, such as radio or mobile and fixed telephone services that are used for broadband purposes. I do not rule out the possibility of using these masts for additional services after the switch-off.

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Absolutely.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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As the Deputy knows, quality new spectrum will become available after the switch-off. It may well be the case that some of these masts will be used to improve the quality of broadband, for example.

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister mentioned in his reply that RTE will decommission some of the sites it will not need for television services in the future, after digital television has been introduced. Will it be possible to ensure the future use of such sites for other services is ascertained before any of them are sold or disposed of in any way? As the Minister is aware, people in many rural areas have encountered difficulties in getting suitable sites for masts for a range of services, including telephone services. Can the Minister assure the House that he will pursue a policy of ensuring none of these sites, which are already in our possession, is disposed of until it is absolutely certain that it cannot be used for another communications purpose? This is particularly important at a time when new spectrums are about to become available, as the Minister said, and when we are trying to upgrade rural broadband services, which are very important.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I can give the Deputy a commitment that I will bring the views he has just expressed to the attention of the RTE authorities, which are putting a great deal of work and thought into getting the switch-off right. As Minister, I could not contemplate the implications of a significant number of the constituents of Deputy Ó Cuív and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle being left without "Coronation Street". It would be an appalling vista.

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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That is the subject of another question.