Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the options or remedies available to a person (details supplied ) in County Waterford in view of the fact that this is one of the areas that is unable to receive a Saorview signal, taking into account that this person does not wish to purchase multichannel satellite or cable based TV packages [41451/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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RTÉ has built, owns and controls the Saorview TV network and is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of that network. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which provides that the development of the RTÉ network is an operational matter for RTÉ.

Section 130 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 Act provides that RTÉ must roll out a national digital TV network to the same extent as its existing analogue network. In this regard, I understand from RTÉ that their analogue network covers 98% of the population and the Saorview network will also provide 98% population coverage. It is impossible to cover 100% of the population by terrestrial means.

In addition to Saorview, RTÉ has developed SAORSAT, a new free-to-air satellite service unique to Ireland to ensure the RTÉ television services are available to the remaining 2% of the population. RTÉ is not obliged to provide this satellite service and is doing so on its own initiative.

SAORSAT launched in March 2012 and provides access to the RTÉ channels including the new RTÉ channels developed for SAORVIEW and TG4. TV3 has not yet made a decision regarding SAORSAT.

Further information on SAORSAT is available from SAORVIEW on and on LoCall 1850 222 012 and from RTÉ Networks Limited (RTÉNL) on .