Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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508. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views that it is important for Raidió Teilifís Éireann to retain its longwave radio service to maintain contacts between Ireland and the Irish diaspora, many of whom are elderly and may not be in a position to avail of the Internet (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17215/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 114 (1) of the  Act states the principal objects and associated powers of RTÉ and Section 98 provides that it 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 RTÉ’s decision making in regard to general day to day matters, including the provision of the 252 longwave radio service. As announced by RTÉ on 19December 2014, the service is to be retained until 2017. This decision extends the life of the longwave service and gives the broadcaster time to engage with those listeners likely to be affected by its closure about alternative ways of accessing RTÉ radio.  It also provides the company with the opportunity to explore the availability of other platforms for delivering the service that might help meet the needs of these individual listeners and communities.