asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of areas getting poor television reception in the country at a recent date; and the number at the corresponding date in 1973.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - TV Reception.
30.
Although the present RTE television service provides a service for about 98 per cent of the population, there are many areas throughout the country where reception is not, unfortunately, satisfactory. It is not possible to give any precise figure for the number of such areas, some of which would be merely small pockets containing a few houses. There has been no appreciable change in the position since this time last year.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, and at the risk of being called stupid would the Minister tell me how many areas have been improved since this time last year, what plans there are for the improvement of some of these areas in the next 12 months, and when RTE eventually hope that these areas will be completely eliminated?
RTE carried out work to increase the reliability of the transposer serving Cahirciveen during 1973 and were involved in a co-operative effort with the Leap community to provide a simple cable system there as a method of improving reception. The last transposer provided by RTE was in December, 1972, to serve the Bantry area. It had been hoped to provide transposers to serve Roscarbery and Clonakilty before the end of 1973 but delays in delivery of the equipment render this impossible. The storms in the recent past have contributed further to the delay as the ESB have not been able to provide electric power to the transposers because of staff diversions to deal with the storm damage. RTE have not got a forecast of when the ESB service will be provided. RTE completed a detailed examination of reception in the country as a whole and proposed a three to four year programme costing about £1.25 million which they suggest would be financed by repayable Exchequer advances. This matter is at present under consideration.
Do I take it that no firm date for the commencement of this work which would be carried out as a result of the survey has been set?
The Deputy is right.
I should like to express disappointment that many people have been neglected.
Has the Minister any information concerning the Laragh-Glendalough area in County Wicklow because reception continues to be at a low level there?
I have nothing here about it but if the Deputy would care to communicate with me or put down a question I will give him full details of the position.
Seeing that I raised this matter before would the Minister be good enough to issue a statement to me about the matter?
I will do that.