Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the provision of commercial digital terrestrial television here; the negotiation between the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and a consortium (details supplied); the timescale for the roll out of a free to air DTT service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35842/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the development of digital terrestrial television in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. Under this Act, RTÉ is required to provide a national 'free to air' digital terrestrial television system with capacity to carry RTÉ 1, Network 2, TG4 and TV3. This new service will eventually replace the existing analogue free to air television service. The legislation also requires the newly established Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to provide for the development of commercial digital terrestrial television services. A competition for commercial multiplexes was initiated by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) in 2008 and is still ongoing. The contract has been offered to the One Vision consortium.

The BAI has taken over the role of the BCI in finalising this competition. The BAI, which is an independent regulatory authority, is responsible under the 2009 Act for the licensing and competition issues raised by the Deputy. While I have no direct function in these matters, I am concerned on policy grounds to see an early agreement on the provision of commercial DTT services and an early time path for the implementation of such agreement. My policy objective is the earliest possible switch-off of the analogue system thereby releasing valuable spectrum to enable Ireland to reap the benefits of the digital dividend.

I am informed by RTÉ that 13 sites have been DTT enabled to accommodate both the single free to air DTT multiplex and also the three commercial DTT multiplexes. This represents the most difficult and costly element of the build plan as it includes the main transmitter sites in Ireland. It also involves costs associated with replacing several of these masts to accommodate the commercial multiplexes. In relation to the timing of the rollout of the 'free to air' DTT service, the legislation provides that RTÉ must provide a full national DTT service by the end of 2011 or such later date as the Minister decides. RTÉ have not yet set a date for launching their DTT services but have indicated a preference for launching in parallel with a commercial DTT operator as the availability of commercial DTT is important to assist RTÉ in getting a return on their investment and to ensure adequate viewer choice in the digital era.