Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the target date for the switch off of analogue television broadcast services. [3352/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 provides for, amongst other things, the closure of the national analogue TV network.

My stated policy objective on this is that the earliest possible switch-off of the analogue system needs to be achieved thereby releasing valuable spectrum to enable Ireland to reap the benefits of the digital dividend.

The European Commission has set 2012 as the timeline for analogue switch off throughout Europe and has recommended that Member States should endeavour to adopt 1 January 2012 as the target date. The EU Council of Ministers, for its part, has asked member States to, as far as possible, complete the switchover in 2012.

I consider that it is in the best interests of Ireland that the precise switch off date for analogue services should be identified as soon as possible and, as stated above, my objective is that this should take place no later than quarter 4 of 2012. It is also important that there is certainty provided in relation to when free-to-air digital terrestrial television (DTT) will be available.

In this regard, I have established a group to advise me on planning for analogue switch off and related matters. The Group includes representatives of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), ComReg, RTÉ and my own Department. I expect to be presented with the group's recommendations within the coming weeks and when I have considered them I will announce the precise dates for both the availability of free-to-air DTT and analogue switch off.