asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that some local authorities, at present carrying out housing schemes which embody underground power and telephone cables, are anxious to make use of the communal aerial system to fit in with the general pattern of having no unsightly wires; and that they are prevented from doing so by a Posts and Telegraphs regulation forbidding more than ten households to be supplied per aerial; and if, in view of the desirability of replacing many dangerous and unsightly television aerials by one master aerial, he will alter or relax the regulation as he did in the case of the Ballymun scheme.
Ceistenna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Communal Television Aerials.
4.
I am aware that a number of local authorities are anxious to provide communal aerial systems in their housing schemes. If, however, such systems distributing external programmes were freely permitted the revenue earning capacity of the Irish television service could be seriously affected. Until such time, therefore, as the Irish service has firmly established itself and shown its capacity to repay the very large investment of State capital in it, distribution of external television services by means of large scale communal aerial systems will not be permitted.
The decision in regard to Ballymun was entirely exceptional and was taken because of the special circumstances which apply there. In particular, reception of RTE programmes on indoor aerials in the two-storey houses in Ballymun would not be satisfactory because of adjacent high buildings and it would not be possible for residents to have individual outdoor aerials because of the unique features of the building project.
In the circumstances, it is not proposed to relax the present restriction under which not more than ten houses may be served from a communal aerial which distributes external television programmes.
Is the Minister not in sympathy with the idea behind this servicing from a master aerial, which would be cheaper for the people concerned and which would give improved reception? Does the Minister not think that, on balance, improved reception would lead to a greater revenue from licences? I envisage a master aerial which would not necessarily retransmit. It would be cheaper and it would give better reception. It would not necessarily be piped television or radio. In other words, on a local authority or private——
We cannot have a speech from the Deputy.
——housing scheme perhaps a number of master aerials could be erected. Has the Minister considered that aspect?
I have considered every aspect of this in some detail and I think what has been decided is a reasonable compromise. There can be an aerial to serve a single block of flats or not more than ten adjacent houses. That is as far as it is possible to go at present for the reasons I have already given the Deputy.