asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will take immediate steps to have some improvement effected in the television reception in Fermoy town, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fermoy TV Reception.
13.
The improvement of television reception is a matter for Radio Telefís Éireann. As I said when introducing the Estimate for my Department on 16th May, 1967, the Authority is aware that reception is still not satisfactory in many small areas comprising about 2 per cent of the country, and plans are being worked out for some of the more populous of these pockets but disproportionately heavy capital expenditure would be involved in filling in many of them and I cannot say how far money will be available for further transposers.
I understand that the Authority has not yet completed its survey of areas of poor reception and that no plans for additional transposers have yet been approved.
I also understand that the quality of reception varies considerably in different parts of Fermoy. Viewers whose reception is not satisfactory should ensure that their sets are properly adjusted and that they have suitable aerials for the location.
The Minister and the House will know that I have asked questions during the past four years about the poor television reception in Fermoy and district. Would the Minister now say whether the last part of his reply indicates that he is thinking contrary to the thinking of his predecessor, Deputy Brennan, who replied to a similar question 12 months ago? I was then assured there would be an immediate and effective improvement in the quality of the reception in Fermoy and district.
My predecessor did not promise an immediate improvement in television reception in that area. He said, on 23rd March, 1966:
I understand that the Fermoy area, County Cork, is one of a number of areas in the country where television reception is not entirely satisfactory. As I said in answer to a similar question on March 9th, the authority is carrying out surveys in these areas with a view to deciding what further action, if any, should be taken to improve reception.
In further reply to the Deputy, I have said that only two per cent of the country receives inadequate reception. That is a good standard by comparison with other countries. There will be an improvement but I cannot say when, because it involves heavy capital expenditure.
Does that mean that the television licensees in Fermoy and district will have to suffer on without any hope whatever of getting value for their licence fees?
I did not say they were without hope of getting value for their licence fees. As the Deputy knows, there is an enormous capital programme and there are priorities. Besides, 98 per cent reception is not a bad figure. We are doing our best to improve it. Booster transformers have been placed in various parts of the country.
I remember the former Minister, replying to a supplementary question, saying that Fermoy would get immediate attention.