Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 457: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his policy and proposals for future development of free to air digital television; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23425/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides the legislative basis for the development of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) services in Ireland and for analogue switch off. Under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009, RTÉ is required to develop a national free to air DTT service which enables the switch off of their analogue television services in 2012.

In this regard, I recently signed an Order, SI 85 of 2010, under section 129 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 requiring RTÉ to launch their DTT service to approximately 90% of the population by 31st October 2010. I have been informed by RTÉ that they are on target to meet the October launch date and I welcome this development.

The 2009 Act also requires RTÉ to provide the full national digital service by the end of 2011 or such date as I may specify. I have communicated to RTÉ that the date for the provision of a full national DTT service is 31st December 2011.

The RTÉ digital terrestrial television service is required to provide a digital platform for the existing analogue free to air television services, and provide space for additional public service channels, if required. In the event of spare capacity it can be used by RTÉ on a commercial basis, to offer carriage to other commercial television channels.