Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if RTE will be expected to roll out a full digital terrestrial television service in the absence of a commercial DTT provider using the same network. [18775/09]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the implications for the digital dividend in the event of a collapse of digital terrestrial television here; the outcome of any digital dividend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18712/09]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on RTE's opinion on the strategy regarding digital terrestrial television; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18697/09]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the recent set back for digital terrestrial television here; the action he will take to move DTT forward; his views on whether it is commercially viable; if the target for analogue switch off by 2012 is possible; the way he will deal with the impact of the Wales switch over for viewers on the east coast; the number of European countries which have switched over to DTT to date; the implications if we are unable to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18683/09]

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he will proceed with digital terrestrial television following the announcement by a company (details supplied) that they no longer intend to proceed with plans for commercial DTT. [18758/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 70, 77, 78 and 81 together.

The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007 puts in place a flexible framework for the licensing of digital terrestrial television (DTT) into the future. 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.

The Act requires that RTÉ operate a single public service multiplex which provides access to the free to air Irish TV channels and that the BCI offers licences for three commercial multiplexes.

The development of a national DTT network is important to Ireland, both in terms of securing the future of public service broadcasting and in terms of the potential for benefits to be accrued from the use of the digital dividend which arises from the closure of the analogue television network.

A considerable part of the DTT network has already been built by RTÉ. This build represents the most difficult and costly part of the build plan as it includes the main transmitter sites in Ireland. In order to develop a viable and reliable national DTT service, additional build work will be necessary. In particular, the country's minor transmitter sites will need to be upgraded. This will provide "infill" coverage to ensure that the DTT service is reliable and to ensure that outlying areas in the West, North, North West and South of the country, those areas most reliant on the analogue terrestrial service are also served by DTT.

The 2007 Act also provides for the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to licence commercial DTT operators.

The BCI has run a competition for the award of the three national commercial DTT multiplexes. On 21 July 2008 the BCI announced its intention to enter into contract negotiations with Boxer DTT Ltd for the award of the three national commercial DTT multiplexes.

On the 20 April 2009 the BCI announced that Boxer DTT Ltd had withdrawn from contract negotiations.

The BCI subsequently approached the second placed consortium, One Vision. The BCI has announced that it has now agreed to enter into contract negotiations with One Vision. I welcome this development and look forward to a speedy and successful conclusion to these negotiations.

The BCI have confirmed that they are committed to pursuing the development of DTT services in Ireland as quickly as possible. I should emphasise that the BCI is an independent body and that I have no role in their licensing process. I am, however, closely monitoring the progress being made.

The switch off of the national analogue broadcasting system is planned to take place by 2012. A working group has been established – comprising representatives from my Department, RTÉ, BCI and ComReg - to develop a plan for analogue switch-off.

ComReg is working closely with its UK counterpart to ensure the continued protection of analogue TV in Ireland. The UK has a schedule to switch off analogue TV in different regions from 2008 to 2012 in favour of digital terrestrial television. Analogue services in Wales are set to switch off in autumn 2009. This is likely to impact viewers along the South East of the country who currently receive overspill of the UK analogue terrestrial television channels. Viewers on cable and satellite will not be affected by these changes.

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.

In the context of the transition from analogue to DTT, I have also published a paper on the development of a policy framework for identifying the spectrum required for television broadcasting in the UHF band as well as identifying the spectrum that could be released for use by other services.

The policy framework requires ComReg to take appropriate actions, in conjunction with the BCI and RTÉ, to identify what spectrum can be made available for the Digital Dividend and to advise me accordingly in a timely manner on what uses could be made of spectrum not required for broadcasting in the band in order for me to make an informed assessment of the policy options for promoting various objectives.

To date approximately 19 EU Member States have switched on DTT services and 24 Member States plan to switch off analogue by 2012. I remain committed to meeting the 2012 deadline for analogue switch off.