Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that RTÉ has the capacity to roll out a full digital terrestrial television infrastructure by the end of 2009 due to funding challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24124/09]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the digital terrestrial television contract with a company (details supplied) has been finalised; if not, the timeframe for the signing of the contract; if he is satisfied that the rollout of DTT will happen in a timely manner; when he expects the completion of the DTT project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24050/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 21 and 49 together.

The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007 provides for the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to licence commercial DTT operators, as a matter of priority. The BCI is an independent body and I have no role in its licensing process.

The 2007 Act also provides for RTÉ to establish a free to air national DTT service to replace the existing analogue terrestrial services offered by RTÉ, TG4 and TV3, as a matter of priority. There is no requirement on RTÉ to complete this work in 2009.

In relation to funding, the Act provides that the establishment and operation of the RTÉ national DTT service can be funded from licence fee monies.

The rollout of DTT infrastructure is well advanced and RTÉNL has already built a network which includes the main transmitter sites in Ireland. This represents the central component of their build plan. The remaining build work will largely involve upgrading the country's minor transmitter sites to provide "infill" coverage 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.

I am confident that the DTT network will be built in time for the switch off of the analogue television services in 2012.