asked the Minister for Communications the names of persons appointed to membership of the Cable Television Committee; when it is expected they will have their report prepared; and if it will be published.
570.
Written Answers. - Cable TV.
569.
asked the Minister for Communications if the Cable Television Committee are carrying out investigations into the possibility of networks linking TV cable and telephone cables.
571.
asked the Minister for Communications if the cable committee has invited submissions from interested parties regarding the development of cabling.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 569, 570 and 571 together.
The membership of the Cable Systems Committee is as follows:
Mrs. Margaret Downes, Partner, Coopers and Lybrand, chartered accountants (Chairman); Mr. Thomas Dempsey, Staff Engineer, Department of Communications; Mr. Gerald Fitzgerald, formerly Managing Director of Phoenix Relays Ltd.; Mr. Michael Grant, Assistant Secretary, Department of Communications; Mr. Norman Harvison, formerly Chief Executive of Cork Communications Ltd.; Mr. Joseph McCabe, Chief Executive, Irish Ropes Ltd.; Mr. Oliver Maloney, Chairman, Agricultural Credit Corporation; Dr. James Mountjoy, National Board for Science and Technology; Prof. Michael Sexton, Professor of Electrical Engineering, University College, Cork.
The terms of reference of the Committee are:
"1. To examine and make recommendations on a national strategy for the development — on the most cost effective basis possible — of cable systems, and on the design and technical standards that should be applied, bearing in mind advances in technology and the additional services that may be available for relay in the future. These additional services may include:
—satellite broadcasts, information and entertainment services,
—non-broadcast programme services which may be supported by advertising or subscription,
—interactive information services.
2. To examine also the practical problems in providing and maintaining cable TV systems, including those relating to franchise procedures, wayleaves, disconnections and unauthorised connections, and to make recommendations in regard to any action regarded as desirable in relation to these."
The committee expect to report in the Autumn. No decision has yet been taken as to whether the report will be published.
The committee invited submissions both from the public generally and from interested parties in January and February 1984.
572.
asked the Minister for Communications if Bord Telecom Éireann have made any submission to his Department regarding the potential of optic fibre cable for television transmissions.
My Department have not received a submission directly from Telecom Éireann on this matter. However, I understand that the company made a submission to the Cable Systems Committee which referred, inter alia, to the potential of optic fibre cable.
573.
asked the Minister for Communications if he has received any proposals from cable companies to operate a pay TV system; and if he will be favourable to such a proposal.
One such proposal has been received and it will be considered in the light of the recommendations of the Cable Systems Committee whose report is expected in the autumn.
574.
asked the Minister for Communications the areas that are now serviced with television cable systems; the number of people serviced by each company; and if he will indicate the towns which are presently being considered for tendering for cable systems.
The information sought is given in the following statements:
Cable Television Licences
|
Licensee |
Licensed Area(s) |
Estimated No. of subscribers |
|
RTE Relays, |
Dublin City (part) |
|
|
10 Pembroke Place, |
Portmarnock, Co. Dublin |
|
|
Ballsbridge, |
Lucan, Co. Dublin |
|
|
Dublin 4. |
Bray, Co. Wicklow |
|
|
Clondalkin, Co. Dublin |
94,900 |
|
|
Tallaght North, Co. Dublin |
||
|
Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin |
||
|
Dalkey, Co. Dublin |
||
|
Saggart, Co. Dublin |
||
|
Mulhuddart, Co. Dublin |
||
|
Dublin Cablesystems Ltd., |
Dublin City (part) |
101,800 |
|
Parkhouse, North Circular Road,Dublin 7 |
Rathcoole, Co. Dublin |
|
|
Leixlip, Co. Kildare |
||
|
Baldoyle, Co. Dublin |
||
|
Palmerstown, Co. Dublin |
||
|
Tallaght South, Co. Dublin |
||
|
J. H. Stimpson,(Piped TV) Limited,Ross Lane, New Street,Malahide, Co. Dublin. |
Malahide, Co. Dublin |
1,500 |
|
Alpine Relays Ltd.,Enniskerry,Co. Wicklow. |
Clonard Estate, Dundrum, Co. Dublin |
250 |
|
Waterford Cablesystems Ltd.,30A Michael Street,Waterford. |
Waterford City |
7,500 |
|
Radio & Television Systems Ltd., |
Cavan TownBailieboro |
800 |
|
60 Main Street,Cavan. |
CarrickmacrossNavan North (part) |
|
|
Independent Relays Ltd.,56 Thomastown road,Dún Laoghaire,Co. Dublin. |
Arklow, Co. WicklowWicklow Town |
2,0001,000 |
|
Carlow Cablevision Ltd.,16 Castle Hill,Carlow. |
Carlow Town |
1,400 |
|
Equilateral Ltd.,T/A Meath Relays,PO Box 22,Navan, Co. Meath |
Navan South |
800 |
|
Management Group Ltd.,(Martini Systems),7A Carrickbrennan Rd.,Monkstown,Co. Dublin. |
Greystones, Co. Wicklow |
1,600 |
|
Regional Relays Limited,76 Landscape Rd.,Churchtown,Dublin 14. |
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford |
1,000 |
|
Midland Relays Limited, |
Mullingar, Co. Westmeath |
1,000 |
|
3 Ballinderry, |
||
|
Mullingar, |
||
|
Co. Westmeath. |
||
|
TV Systems Limited,9 Newtown Avenue,Blackrock,Co. Dublin |
New Ross, Co. Wexford |
1,100 |
|
Marmac Limited,Union Place,Sligo. |
Sligo town |
4,700 |
|
McGahon & O'Neill,Castletown Rd.,Dundalk,Co. Louth. |
Dundalk (part), Co. Louth |
640 |
|
Celbridge Relays Ltd.,Unit 12,Celbridge Town Centre,Celbridge,Co. Kildare. |
Celbridge, Co. KildareMaynooth, Co. Kildare |
900200 |
|
Glenties Community(Piped TV) Co-operative,Glenties,Co. Donegal. |
Glenties, Co. Donegal |
250 |
|
Emmet Electrical Ltd.,The Crescent,Boyle, Co. Roscommon. |
Boyle, Co. Roscommon |
350 |
|
Sheerin Electrical Ltd.,Emmet Street,Trim,Co. Meath. |
Navan North (part) |
390 |
|
Oliver Temple,T/A Celtic Relays,6 St. Margarets Road,Malahide,Co. Dublin. |
Rush, Co. DublinAshbourne, Co. MeathSwords, Co. Dublin |
150400900 |
|
Athlone Relay Company Ltd.,9 Newtown Ave.,Blackrock,Co. Dublin |
Athlone, Co. Westmeath |
1,500 |
|
Casey TV Rentals Ltd.,PO Box 5,Youghal Rd.,Dungarvan,Co. Waterford. |
Dungarvan, Co. Waterford |
1,100 |
|
J.W. Stones Ltd.,23 North Main Street,Naas, County Kildare. |
Naas, Co. Kildare |
1,000 |
|
Connaught (Multi-Channel TV) Ltd.,5 Prospect Hill,Galway. |
Galway City |
600 |
|
Cork Communications Ltd.,Sunbeam Industrial Estate,Millfield,Cork. |
Cork CityLismore, Co. WaterfordTallow, Co. WaterfordCappoquin, Co. Waterford |
18,000100100100 |
|
Berney Crossan & Sons Ltd., |
Longford Town |
800 |
|
52 Main Street,Longford. |
||
|
Westward Cables Ltd.,Unit 1, |
Limerick City |
900 |
|
Mungret Street, |
||
|
Limerick. |
||
|
Bagenalstown Community, |
Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow |
500 |
|
Cablevision Society Ltd., |
||
|
C/o Mr. John M. Foley,Station Rd.,Bagenalstown,Co. Carlow. |
||
|
Portlaoise Cablevision Ltd., |
Portlaoise, Co. Laois |
(only recently licensed) |
|
4 New Rd.,Portlaoise, |
||
|
Co. Laois. |
Letters of intent to grant television licences, subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions, have issued in respect of the following areas:
|
Ballina, Co. Mayo |
Kilkenny City |
|
Ballinasloe, Co. Galway |
Mountmellick, Co. Laois |
|
Birr, Co. Offaly |
Nenagh, Co. Tipperary |
|
Castlebar, Co. Mayo |
Tullamore, Co. Offaly |
|
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary |
Competitions for cable television licences are in progress in respect of the following areas:
|
Athenry, Co. Galway |
Loughrea, Co. Galway |
|
Athy, Co. Kildare |
Midleton, Co. Cork |
|
Banagher, Co. Offaly |
Newbridge, Co. Kildare |
|
Cahir, Co. Tipperary |
Passage West, Co. Cork |
|
Carrigaline, Co. Cork |
Portarlington, Co. Laois |
|
Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork |
Shannon, Co. Clare |
|
Cashel, Co. Tipperary |
Thurles, Co. Tipperary |
|
Cobh, Co. Cork |
Tipperary Town |
|
Donegal Town |
Youghal, Co. Cork |
|
Dunboyne, Co. Meath |
|
|
Ennis, Co. Clare |
|
|
Glenbrook, Co. Cork |
|
|
Glounthaune, Co. Cork |
No further competitions are planned at present.