Vol. 308 No. 6
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of considerable dissatisfaction in the Clonakilty area of County Cork, owing to the delay in providing RTE 2 service in that area; if he agrees that priority in the availability of this service should be given to single channel areas; and if he will take steps to ensure that the service is made available in the Clonakilty area.
474.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (a) why RTE 2 cannot be made available to a one-channel area like Clonakilty in line with the rest of Cork county; and (b) how a delay of 12 months in providing RTE 2 for the Clonakilty area can be justified when some multi-channel areas already have test transmissions.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 473 and 474 together.
The provision of the transmitter network for RTE 2 is a big task and has had to be undertaken in phases. Technical considerations dictated that the main transmitting stations should be provided first. This approach also has the advantage that service will be provided for the greatest possible number of viewers in the single channel area from the inauguration of RTE 2. For operational reasons provision has also been made to provide RTE 2 transposers from the outset at a number of low powered stations in Mayo, Clare, Kerry, Cork and Waterford. The service will be available to 90 per cent of the population initially.
RTE say that detailed planning for the extension of RTE 2 to the remaining parts of the country will commence as soon as possible. Priority will be given in this phase to single channel areas where transposers have been provided for the first television service.
