Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of times the digital switchover steering group has met since it was formed in 2010; the decisions made on foot of their deliberations; the way he plans to inform the public of these decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16639/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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A Digital Switchover Steering Group (DSG) has been established to plan, coordinate and deliver switchover from analogue terrestrial TV to digital TV in Ireland by the end of 2012. The Group is chaired by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) and comprises members from DCENR, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), RTÉ, RTÉNL, TV3, TG4 and ComReg. The first meeting of the Group was held on 3 September 2010 and there have been 13 meetings to date. TV3 and TG4 joined in June 2011, after the national launch of Saorview.

The Group has developed a digital switchover programme to ensure TV viewers are given the options, information and assistance to switch from the analogue terrestrial TV network to a digital TV network or pay TV service, by the date of closure of the analogue TV network in Q4 2012.

The programme targets an analogue switch off date in Q4 2012, which is being finalised in coordination with analogue switch off in Northern Ireland; an alternative free to air national digital TV network being in place in advance of analogue switch off to ensure all TV viewers have time to migrate to digital TV; TV households throughout the country being made aware of analogue switch off and their options for going digital through an information campaign that is planned to launch in October 2011; and vulnerable TV households being given some public assistance to go digital. In this regard, the plan is to work with charities and community groups to provide outreach support.

The Steering Group has developed a number of working groups. An Analogue Switch-off Information Campaign group chaired by DCENR, which aims at developing and operating a public information awareness and assistance campaign on digital switchover and analogue switch off. Membership of this working group comprises relevant broadcasters, ComReg and BAI. A Digital Switchover Information group is chaired by RTÉ and has membership from other broadcasters. Its aim is to inform the public about the new 'Saorview' network, including information about coverage, the availability of Saorview receivers and information on how to tune in to Saorview. A Technical group, which is chaired by RTÉNL with membership from the broadcasters, BAI, ComReg and DCENR, provides information on progress in relation to network build, receiver specifications and receiver availability and seeks to identify and resolve technical issues. A Content group, which is chaired by BAI, with membership from the broadcasters. It is aimed at optimising services on DTT multiplexes. Much progress has been made on the issues highlighted above. RTÉ has built and launched the national digital TV network. The national Saorview digital TV network was launched nationally on 26 May 2011. RTÉ and the other broadcasters have been, and will continue to, operate a substantial Saorview information and awareness campaign to inform the general public about the availability of the new national digital TV network. In addition RTÉ has established a dedicated website, www.saorview.ie, and a telephone helpline to assist the public to access Saorview.