asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the public unease regarding the proposed change from 405-line to 652-line television transmission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - TV Line Change.
11.
I am not so aware. In areas where 405-line transmissions only are available at present these will not be ceased until service on 652-lines is provided instead.
Is the Minister not aware that, whether 625 commences before 405 ceases, the unease to which I refer is the unease of people who have 405-line receivers only and which are not capable of being reconstructed to take 625? Will this mean, in fact, that whenever 625 becomes available that 405 receivers will become obsolete.
The manufacture of these sets that the Deputy has in mind, 405-line only, ceased here in 1963. Accordingly, all of these sets still in use are at least 12 years old and most of them would now be due for replacement. RTE say that there are approximately 20,000 sets in the entire country capable of receiving 405-line transmission only. There are virtually no 405 only sets rented now.
While the number of sets may be relatively small in RTE's view, it is of importance to those who have them. I would further ask the Minister in a specific way what the situation will be in so far as Donegal is concerned in which county no provision has even yet been made to receive whatever limited colour transmission that is emanating from RTE and what will be done about it.
The second part of the Deputy's question opens up a new area and he could put down a separate question about that if he wishes. As regards the first part, I think I have given the Deputy the information he sought. It is, of course, open to him to take a critical view about my reply but the facts are as I have stated.