Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm that the south east of the country will be prioritised in the digital terrestrial television switch over in view of the switch off in Wales later in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4556/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Planning for the rollout of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) services in Ireland is the shared responsibility of RTÉ, Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), ComReg and my own Department.

The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007, provides for the development of DTT in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. Under this Act, RTÉ is required to provide a national DTT system with capacity to carry RTÉ, TG4 and TV3. This new service will replace the existing analogue free to air television service.

The legislation also requires the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to seek commercial applicants who are interested in providing commercial DTT services. The BCI ran a competition for three national DTT multiplex contracts in March 2008.

Arising from this competition, the BCI is currently in the process of negotiating a contract with Boxer (DTT) Limited, in relation to the development of DTT services in Ireland.

RTÉ is building out a national DTT network and has indicated that it is on target to launch services to 85% of the population — including the South East of Ireland, in autumn 2009.

RTÉ is also in the process of negotiating a contract for carriage of Boxer's DTT services on its DTT network.

Wales is set to switch off its analogue television services in autumn 2009. This is likely to impact viewers along the South East of the country who currently receive overspill of the UK television signals. Viewers on cable and satellite will not be affected.

Both RTÉ and the BCI are aware of the situation in Wales and of the importance of providing DTT along the South East of Ireland, as a matter of priority. Depending on the DTT package available, persons who subscribe to commercial DTT services should be able to receive UK television channels currently available via analogue overspill.