Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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572. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if TG4 plans to launch TG4HD on the back of funding received in 2011; if TG4 has accessed and accounted for these funds; when he expects such a public service to be available on Saorview; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37951/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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TG4 is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit, obligations, principal objects and associated powers are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 of that Act provides that TG4 shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such I, as Minister, have no function in TG4’s management of its day to day affairs. This includes the rollout of its High Definition (HD) project.

TG4 has used the funds previously allocated to move to HD compatible broadcasting and the upgrade project for TG4 infrastructure and facilities is now completed. Decisions regarding the carriage of TG4 HD services on SAORVIEW are a matter for TG4, subject of course to the agreement of the necessary commercial terms with RTÉ as owner of the Saorview network, and not a matter in which I have a role.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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573. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on RTE’s proposal to move all RTEjr programming from RTE 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37952/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Section 103 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that a corporation requires my consent for new services and variations in channels. RTE has decided to review and revise its original proposal, which was submitted in 2013, and under which it proposed removing some, but not all children's programming from RTE 2. I understand that RTE intends to submit a revised and updated proposal in due course.

Accordingly, my Department does not have a current proposal from RTE and will recommence its consideration of the revised proposal once received from RTE.