Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he will take to ease the effects of the close down of analogue television in Wales on Counties Wexford, Waterford, Wicklow and Dublin; the timescale of this impact; his views on the consequences of this signal shutdown; the way he will ensure that vulnerable groups are not adversely affected by this shutdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43638/08]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding digital terrestrial television; his views on whether preparations for the switch over in 2012 will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43622/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 114 together.

The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007 puts in place a flexible framework for the licensing of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) into the future. The Act provides for the establishment of a free to air DTT service to replace the existing analogue terrestrial services offered by RTÉ, TG4 and TV3. The Act also provides for the development of commercial DTT services, which are anticipated to provide further choice to those who wish to avail of additional channels to the Irish free to air channels. Under the Act, RTÉ, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) and the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) have obligations to provide for the rollout of DTT and to assist in the development of a plan for analogue switch off.

In order for Ireland to benefit fully from the switch to DTT, a switch-off of analogue television services is necessary. Ireland has indicated that this switch off is likely to take place in 2012, in line with other European countries.

The BCI is responsible for contracting commercial DTT service providers. In this regard, a Swedish company Boxer Ltd, in partnership with Communicorp has been offered the contract and contract terms are being finalised. It is anticipated that the launch of commercial DTT services will be coordinated with the launch of the free to air DTT service in 2009.

The UK has a schedule to switch off analogue TV in different regions from 2008 to 2012 in favour of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). Analogue TV services in Wales, for instance, are expected to switch off from August 2009 and this will impact on viewers in Wexford, Waterford, Wicklow and Dublin who receive UK TV channels via overspill from the UK.

Viewers on cable and satellite will not be affected by these changes and will continue to receive the UK terrestrial channels.

The anticipated 2009 launch of commercial Irish digital terrestrial services will provide a significant range of television services which will be available in the south east of the country, including to those persons who will be impacted by the switch off of analogue services in the UK.