Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the towns and townlands in west Cork which will not be covered by the new Saorview digital television service next year following the switch from the analogue service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31005/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Issues relating to television coverage in specific areas of the country are an operational matter for RTÉ. The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for RTÉ to rollout a digital TV network to the same extent as the analogue TV network. RTÉ has informed my Department that the current analogue TV network covers 98% of the population and that its new digital TV network called Saorview will also cover 98% of the population.

RTÉ has developed a website providing information on the Saorview service including coverage information and this is available on its website www.saorview.ie .

In addition, RTÉ is planning to launch a new 'free-to-air' satellite service to cover the remaining 2% of the population. RTÉ is not obliged to provide a satellite service and is doing so on its own initiative. It is my understanding that, once the satellite service has launched, it will mean that Ireland will have a national TV network covering 100% of the population, for the first time. RTÉ is currently testing the satellite service to check, inter alia, coverage and other issues and to ensure the availability of satellite receivers, once it launches. RTÉ considers that the service will be ready to launch in early 2012.