Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My priority, in accordance with national policy, is to provide for the closure, in 2012, of the analogue "free-to-view" broadcasting service.

In this regard I have recently signed an Order, Statutory Instrument 85 of 2010, under section 129 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009. This Order requires RTÉ to launch a "free-to-view" DTT service to approximately 90% of the population by 31st October 2010.

The 2009 Act also requires RTÉ to provide the full national "free-to-view" digital service, capable of carrying RTÉ 1, RTÉ 2, TG4 and TV3, by the end of 2011 or such date as I may specify. In this regard I have informed RTÉ that the date for the provision of a national service is 31st December 2011.

The exact areas to be covered in each county, is dependent on a number of factors including transmitter location, signal strength and topography. I have however, been informed by RTÉ that the list of sites shown in appendix I below, are the transmitter sites that will provide coverage on 31st October 2010 and that construction of two sites remain to be completed. This will be dependent on weather conditions.

RTÉ and RTÉNL have informed me that they have comprehensive communications plans in preparation for the autumn and these will be published in due course. The information communications plan for DTT will be timely and appropriate, and will be made available to the Irish public through a variety of methods.