asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that owners of television sets on the south and east coast who previously had good reception from Welsh TV (Pembroke) are unable to get reception since the transmission began from Mount Leinster, County Carlow; whether, if the wavelength used at Mount Leinster was altered to that used at Maghera, County Clare, or Mullaghanish, County Cork, such obstruction to Welsh TV reception would occur; and if he will make a statement on reception in the South-East.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reception of Welsh TV Service.
36.
It was realised that in fringe reception areas there would be mutual interference between the Mount Leinster station and television stations in the Six Counties and Great Britain, and my Department and the British Post Office agreed on some minor frequency adjustments designed to minimise such interference.
It is not possible to assign a different channel to the Mount Leinster station for reasons which were fully explained in my replies to questions by Deputies Ryan and Sweetman on the 1st and 22nd March, 1962, in a statement issued to the press on 9th March, 1962, in my reply to the Adjournment Debate on 20th March, 1962 and in my reply to the debate on the Estimate for my Department on 4th April, 1962.
Would the Minister agree to have the matter further examined, on account of unsatisfactory reception in that area?
The matter has already been fully examined. As I have told the Deputy, consultations have been held between the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and the British Post Office. I have gone into this matter fully on several occasions in this House and issued public statements, and I have nothing further to add.
Can we take it nothing else can be done to lessen this interference?
It looks like that.
Is the Minister telling the House he can do nothing to ensure proper reception in that area after people have paid £4 for licences?
I have explained the matter fully to the House and I have nothing further to add.
It is a very poor show that these people have paid £4 for licences and can see nothing.