Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to address the areas (details supplied) that will not receive transmission from RTÉ under the new digital SaorView signal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15881/12]

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 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 has developed a new "free-to-air" satellite service unique to Ireland to ensure the RTÉ TV services are available to 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, with this satellite service, Ireland will have a national TV network covering 100% of the population for the first time.