Vol. 352 No. 5
asked the Minister for Communications if the waiting time for radio frequency allocations by the radio section has increased; if so, the amount; whether this will have a serious effect on companies supplying radio equipment; and whether there is a danger of the development of pirating at this end of the broadcasting market.
402.
asked the Minister for Communications whether in view of the huge backlog of frequency applications in the radio section, he would consider arranging that appropriate staff be temporarily seconded from Bord Telecom Éireann in order to permit the community repeater system to be properly established or alternatively if he will arrange some other method of removing the backlog.
: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 402 together.
Because of particularly severe pressure of frequency management work, there is a four-month backlog in the processing of business radio licence applications. My Department have been in touch with suppliers of business radio equipment and with their representative organisation in regard to difficulties created by the backlog, and is particularly conscious of the risk that licensing requirements may be ignored by some unscrupulous suppliers. As an interim measure my Department are authorising additional frequencies for experimental community repeater systems which will enable suppliers to meet a considerable part of the demand for mobile communications systems with the minimum of licensing formalities. The question of obtaining additional engineer staff is also under consideration, though it can be taken that in view of their present commitments Bord Telecom Éireann are not in a position to second suitable staff.
