Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made on the introduction of digital terrestrial television; the time frame for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29107/07]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to inform consumers of the introduction of DTT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29108/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.

The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007 was enacted in May 2007 and puts in place a flexible framework for the licensing of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) into the future. The Act provides for the use of multiplexes by both public service and commercial broadcasters and for the transmission of both digital television services and digital sound broadcasting services. Under the Broadcasting Act, RTE, the Broadcasting Commission for Ireland (BCI) and the Communications Regulation (ComReg) have obligations to provide for the roll-out of DTT. Each of their roles is critical to ensuring the success of DTT in Ireland.

All three organisations are making progress in this regard. ComReg has made progress towards ensuring that spectrum is available for DTT and has consulted on the conditions to be attached to DTT licences. The BCI is consulting with parties interested in commercial DTT contracts and RTE has started to develop plans for rolling out national DTT services. It is anticipated that during 2008, RTE will start to build a network to provide a DTT multiplex capable of carrying RTE 1, RTE 2, TV3 and TG4 and the BCI will launch a competition for up to three additional DTT multiplexes. Consideration will be given to the public information campaign which will be required to inform consumers of DTT and analogue switch-off.