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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Jul 1968

Vol. 236 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fermoy TV Reception.

8.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs what efforts have been made to have the television reception in Fermoy town improved since a reply of last November.

: As indicated in reply to previous questions, the improvement of television reception is a matter for Radio Telefís Éireann. I understand that reception is still not satisfactory in a large number of small areas comprising about 2 per cent of the country, and that the Authority is at present examining the findings of an exhaustive survey which was made of these areas.

Part of the town of Fermoy is one of these pockets of poor reception. I cannot say when it will be possible to improve matters there, as technical and financial considerations, as well as the number of viewers affected, must influence the Authority in determining its priorities.

: I wonder is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that over 12 months ago I was promised in this House that an attempt would be made to have the reception in Fermoy town improved? Am I now told we will have to wait for some other technical faults to be discovered and remedied before we get the reception we are entitled to?

: I would like to point out to the Deputy that 12 months ago, when he last raised the matter, he was not given the promise he indicates he was given at that time. At that time the Minister said the difficulty was that the reception varied considerably in different parts of Fermoy and suggested that viewers whose reception was not

Following is the statement:

satisfactory should ensure that their sets were properly adjusted and have suitable aerials for reception. There was not a promise of the nature suggested by the Deputy.

: Would the Parliamentary Secretary now agree that the answer he has now given me is less satisfactory than the one I got 12 months ago and less satisfactory to the television owners of Fermoy, who are now very annoyed at all this business?

: It is wrong for the Deputy to talk generally about the viewers in Fermoy. It is in parts of Fermoy the principal difficulty is. The problem is that some of the viewers are receiving their programmes from Mullaghanish, some from Maghera and some from Mount Leinster. Fermoy appears to be in a peculiar position from this point of view.

: Question No. 9.

: This will be the last question I will ask, Sir. Would the Parliamentary Secretary now tell me and the licence holders in Fermoy who have a genuine grievance that a genuine attempt will be made to right this wrong?

: This is being looked at. As I said in the reply, there is satisfactory service in all but two per cent of the country. As a result of the survey at present being processed, remedial action will be taken first in relation to the people most affected. Fermoy is not in that category.

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