Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans or those of RTÉ to inform the public of their options in areas in which RTÉ intend abandoning its present broadcasting network in late 2012; the location at which satellite is proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16640/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. In relation to the broadcasting network, section 130(1)(b)(i)(II) of the Act provides that RTÉ shall provide a digital TV network by 31 December 2011 capable of providing coverage to the same extent as its existing analogue TV network.

While I have no function in relation to the development or operation by RTÉ, or its subsidiary RTÉNL, of its broadcast infrastructure, I understand from the company that the analogue TV network uses 150 sites and provides 98% population coverage. I also understand that the RTÉ digital terrestrial television (DTT) network, which launched on 26th May 2011 and is providing the Saorview service, will also be capable of providing 98% coverage from 51 sites.

In relation to the proposed RTÉ Saorsat service, this is a satellite-based broadcast service being developed independently by RTÉ on a commercial basis and the service is currently undergoing testing by RTÉ. I understand from the company that, once established, the service is expected to provide 'free to air' TV reception of the RTÉ TV channels to virtually 100% of the population. The provision of information to the public in relation to the Saorview and Saorsat services is a matter for RTÉ. In that regard, since the national launch of the Saorview service on 26th May 2011, RTÉ and the other broadcasters have been operating 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.

In addition, as Minister with responsibility for broadcasting, I have promised to deliver a substantial information campaign on the switch-off of the analogue signal and the necessity for the digital switchover. This information campaign, which is currently being developed by my Department, is planned to launch in October 2011. The aim of this campaign will be to ensure that TV households throughout the country are made aware of analogue switch-off and of the range of options available to them for going digital.

In conjunction with this, my Department is also currently developing plans to ensure that a range of practical assistance is made available, in particular, to address the particular needs of vulnerable households as they prepare to go digital. In this context, the expertise and local knowledge of the many voluntary and charity organisations around the country will be of critical importance to ensuring the success of the switchover process. I have asked my Department to ensure that, to the greatest possible extent, these organisations play a major part in our digital switchover information and assistance campaign.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he proposes to assist low income households with the cost of digital set-up boxes and when necessary aerials at the time of the digital switchover; the number of households identified to date by the digital switchover steering group as requiring these boxes and aerials who are on low income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16641/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Ireland's national digital switchover strategy provides for the closure of the RTÉNL analogue TV network at the end of 2012 and, through the resulting 'digital dividend', paves the way for the delivery of new jobs, new mobile and broadband services and new national economic growth.

I am keenly aware of the challenges this initiative brings, in particular for Irish households which are reliant on the existing "free to air" analogue TV network. I recently published a Report on TV Viewing Methods in Ireland, which was commissioned by my Department to assist with planning for Analogue Switch-Off (ASO). This report focuses on TV viewers who rely on the analogue terrestrial TV network and also provides useful information on the economic profile of TV households, their media preferences and preferences for receiving information about analogue switch off. This report will usefully inform the digital switchover programme.

This report is also useful in helping to estimate the number of TV households reliant on the aerial TV network backed up by other research such as the TAM establishment survey. From the research, we can estimate that there are at least a quarter of a million households in Ireland reliant on the aerial network solely for television reception and an estimated 100,000 of these are classified as DE homes from a socio-economic perspective. All households that rely solely on the existing "free to air" analogue TV network will need to upgrade to digital TV by the end of 2012 or they will lose access to television services. TV households can choose to upgrade to digital TV by moving to a pay TV service or by upgrading to Saorview, Ireland's national digital TV aerial network. This network was built by RTE and launched on 26th May 2011.

To upgrade to Saorview, TV households will need to purchase either a set top box to connect to their existing TV or a new Saorview digital TV. In some cases, depending on the type of aerial and the orientation and age of the aerial, TV households may also need a new aerial. The number of TV households who may need a new aerial or aerial adjustment is difficult to estimate and is expected to be at least 20,000 TV households.

Experience from other European countries indicates that the cost of set top boxes and other digital receivers reduces as the date for digital switchover approaches, and there is increased competition in the market. I look forward to RTÉ and RTÉNL working intensively with manufacturers and retailers to ensure that there is a plentiful supply of simple to use, accessible and affordable set top boxes available on the market as well as a wide range of digital televisions and digital video recorders.

To overcome the challenges that digital switchover brings, we must also assist people with information and practical assistance to ensure that no one is left behind as Ireland goes digital. For my part, as Minister, I have promised to deliver a substantial information campaign providing households with information on the digital switchover and on their options for going digital. This information campaign will start later this year.

In conjunction with this, my Department is currently developing plans to ensure that a range of practical assistance is made available, in particular, to address the particular needs of vulnerable households as they prepare to go digital. In this context, the expertise and local knowledge of the many voluntary and charity organisations around the country will be of critical importance to ensuring the success of the switchover process. I have asked my Department to ensure that, to the greatest possible extent, these organisations play a major part in our information and assistance campaign.