Dáil debates

Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Topical Issue Debate

Television Reception

10:50 am

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, to the House.

I have correspondence from a party colleague, Councillor Mickey Doherty, regarding his and his community's concerns with the switchover to SAORVIEW on 24 October. Included is a petition of 25 names representing Meenavanaghan, Cross, The Cloghan and Lemacrossan in an area of east Inishowen besides Quigley's Point. The demographics of the area show 75% of the community is elderly. The advice from SAORVIEW is that once the switchover happens on 24 October, these communities will not be capable of receiving television coverage through SAORVIEW. They have been advised to apply through Saorsat which will take upwards of 12 months to get, as well as an additional €170. I do not believe that is a fair option or solution for the people living in these communities.

The local television experts have done their research into the availability of television coverage in these geographical pockets. The existing mast in the area is not part of the SAORVIEW upgrade. Even the largest television mast in Buncrana will be no good as an option. RTE will recommission some of the masts in Glenties and Clonmany, to ensure coverage in these areas. SAORVIEW is of the opinion that channel 45 from Moville will suffice but I do not believe that will be a feasible option.

I do not know what research the Minister's officials have done into this matter at this early stage. The information the Minister will make available this afternoon may not reassure the communities in question. Accordingly, will his officials investigate this particular issue in depth? It may be a micro-issue and could be repeated in other parts.

My colleague, Councillor Doherty, believes this is an issue of great concern to the communities in question. Up to 75% of the population in them are elderly. From a fairness and community point of view, as well as preventing rural isolation, television is a necessary communication mechanism. If the Minister does not have an update on the matter today, will he use his offices to research this issue because it concerns a great number of people in east Inishowen?

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. RTE has built, owns and controls the SAORVIEW TV network and is responsible for its roll-out, coverage and operation. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 which provides that the development of the RTE network is an operational matter for RTE and, therefore, not one in which the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has a function.


I have, however, had inquiries made about the coverage in Donegal as raised by Deputy McHugh. Section 130 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 Act provides that RTE must roll out a national digital TV network to the same extent as its existing analogue network. In this regard, the analogue network covers 98% of the population and the SAORVIEW network will also provide 98% population coverage.


Work has been ongoing right across the country to prepare the transmission sites for the move from analogue to digital terrestrial television. However, it is impossible to cover 100% of the population by terrestrial means. Reasons for this include local topography, for example. Regarding Donegal, I have been informed by RTE Networks Limited, RTENL, that as well as having ten of the 55 SAORVIEW transmission sites located in county Donegal - Glencolumkill, Aranmore, Glenties, Magheroarty, Fanad, Malin, Moville, Holywell Hill, Letterkenny and Ballybofey - a large part of south County Donegal is covered by the large Truskmore transmission sites on the Sligo-Leitrim border. As the Deputy correctly stated, the existing mast in the area referred to is not part of the SAORVIEW upgrade.


Notwithstanding this, SAORVIEW, over the old analogue network coverage in Donegal, will give an improvement in terrestrial availability of 6% for RTE One and RTE Two; an improvement in terrestrial availability of 11% for TG4; and, an improvement in terrestrial availability of 51 % for TV3. I have also contacted RTENL on the townlands around Quigley's Point. I have been informed that Quigley's Point and its environs are covered by SAORVIEW from a transmission site located near Ballymacarthur, to the north of Moville. Further information on coverage is available on the SAORVIEW coverage checker on .


Furthermore, according to RTENL, the majority of homes in the areas of Meenavanaghan, Cross, The Cloghan and Lemacrossan can avail of SAORVIEW or Saorsat. The latter is, of course, RTE's free-to-air satellite service which was officially launched earlier this year and is, therefore, already available to homes in the area. RTE is not obliged to provide this satellite service and is doing so on its own initiative. With this satellite service, Ireland will have a national TV network covering 100% of the population, for the first time. Currently, Saorsat provides access to RTE 1, RTE Two, RTE NewsNow, RTE +1, TG4, RTE's Digital Teletext service and a number of digital radio channels. TV3 has not yet made a decision as to their carriage on the service.


According to RTENL, the cost differential between a SAORVIEW and Saorsat, including full installation, is in the order of €100. Should a home wish to pick up the UK free-to-air, FTA, satellite services, as well as the Irish services, households can opt for a satellite installation that provides access to both. This option is about €50 cheaper than a full installation that provides for a combination of SAORVIEW and the UK FTA satellite services. RTENL has developed an information booklet on Saorsat which is available on www.rtenl.ie .


Should the Deputy have further questions, I will be happy to pass them to RTENL on his behalf for direct reply.

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the research the Minister of State and his Department have done in this subject. He has provided options. Locally, there are concerns and what we are trying to do here is reassure people. There seem to be options albeit more expensive ones which comes back to the fairness issue. If this continues to be an issue, I acknowledge there is an option for the Minister to pass it on to RTENL.

Sometimes we take for granted certain services. There is a concern that if Saorsat is not in an area, it could take 12 months to commission. I welcome the fact the Minister is keeping an open line. I accept he does not have a direct influence with RTE but at the same time, people do bump into each other and they could highlight an issue.

Those from Meenavanaghan, Cross and Lemacrossan who did not get tickets for last Sunday's All-Ireland football final watched it on their old television sets with excellent coverage.

Like the good people of Kerry, once one all-Ireland final is over, we start thinking about the next one. I hope they will be in a position to avail of coverage of the all-Ireland final in 12 months time. I am not predicting who will be in it, but it is important that they have coverage.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I will bring the Deputy's views to the attention of the Department which will communicate directly with him on the issues he has raised.