asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the poor quality of TV reception in the Ballinhassig/Ballygarvan/ Minane Bridge areas of County Cork; and when it is proposed to rectify the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork TV Reception.
4.
I am aware that the areas in question are among many areas throughout the country where reception is not fully satisfactory.
RTE have drawn up a programme for improving reception in areas where it is not fully satisfactory. Owing to the heavy programme of capital works RTE are facing over the next few years, and the varied demands on scarce capital, it will probably be four to five years before the programme is completed. As RTE have no immediate plans for dealing with the areas mentioned by the Deputy, it is not possible to say when reception will be improved there.
Does that reply mean that there is no hope in this area or in areas similarly affected by bad reception that reception will be improved until RTE get the second channel well off the ground?
These are separate matters. Preparations for the second channel are proceeding and this programme of improving reception is also proceeding.
In his reply the Minister said RTE have plans for a sizeable capital expenditure in the next three or four years. The Minister said this improvement of reception has nothing to do with RTE 2. Could the Minister not indicate what he means? We are talking about single channel and multi-channel areas. Here is an area which has very poor single channel reception. Are they to be left with that until this over all capital expenditure covering the second channel has been dealt with?
I made it clear that the programmes are proceeding concommitantly.
Is it the same capital moneys that are being made available for both?
Deputy Lynch is well aware of it.
5.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when television reception will be improved and a booster provided for residents in the Hartnett's Cross, Sleaveen, Tullytreada, Toomes Bridge and Carrigadrohid areas near Macroom, County Cork.
RTE are not aware that reception in the areas in question is less than satisfactory. If the Deputy will furnish the names and addresses of those people who are complaining about their reception, RTE will be pleased to investigate the complaints.
Did the Minister say RTE are not aware of any difficulty in this respect?
RTE have not received any complaints. Deputy Gene Fitzgerald, who put down this question, asked a similar question in December last. I told him at that time that no complaints had been received except from himself. Six months later that still remains the case. There is no evidence that anybody but Deputy Gene Fitzgerald is concerned. No complaints have been received either by the Department or RTE, but if such complaints are received they will be investigated.
Is it to be taken that the position is likely to be that the Minister will not be in a position to indicate when any steps will be taken to remedy these complaints?
I cannot anticipate the results of the investigation or the steps that might be taken following the investigation which has not occurred following a complaint which has not been made.
In that context, is a complaint made by a Deputy in respect of his area to be ignored?
I did not suggest that. Perhaps the Deputy did not hear my answer which was that if the Deputy will furnish the names and addresses of those people who are complaining about their reception RTE will be pleased to investigate their complaints.
That is not much use when, apparently, there is no money to do anything about the problem.
I am calling Question No. 6.
I have more to do than to investigate non-existent complaints.
Is the Minister saying that the complaints are non-existent?
We have not received them.
Question No. 6. Let Question Time proceed in an orderly fashion.