Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 545: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the development and availability of digital television throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3843/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 provides for the development of digital terrestrial television in Ireland.

This Act requires RTÉ to provide a national 'free to air' digital service with capacity to carry RTÉ 1, RTE 2, TG4 and TV3 by the end of 2011 or such later date as I may specify. The RTÉ 'free to air' digital service is to replace the existing analogue terrestrial television service and I wish to make it clear, at this stage, that it is my intention that the date stipulated in the Act for the 'free to air' DTT launch should be met.

In addition, the 2009 Act requires the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), an independent regulatory authority, to provide for the development of commercial digital terrestrial television services.

On foot of this requirement, the BAI's predecessor, the BCI, launched a competition, which is still ongoing. As the Deputy is aware, the highest placed consortium in the competition withdrew from the process last April. Negotiations then commenced with the next placed bidder and this process is continuing.

While I have no direct function in these matters, I would like to see this process concluded as soon as possible.

In relation to the rollout of DTT services, I am informed by RTÉ that, to date, 13 sites have been upgraded to accommodate both the single 'free to air' DTT multiplex and also three commercial DTT multiplexes.