Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the compulsory switch to digital television is scheduled for north Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45838/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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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 development of DTT by both public service and commercial broadcasters. The DTT service is being used to upgrade and eventually replace the national analogue free to air television services provided by RTÉ, TG4 and TV3 and received using an aerial.

In order for Ireland to benefit fully from the switch to DTT, a switch-off of analogue terrestrial television services is necessary. Ireland has indicated that analogue switch over will take place by 2012, in line with other European countries. Section 11 of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007, provides a mechanism for setting a date(s) for analogue switch over. In providing such a date(s), the Minister must take account of, inter alia, the extent of rollout and take up of digital television services.

Information in relation to the notice and timing of analogue switch off will be made available to viewers at an appropriate future date.