asked the Minister for Communications if he has awarded the franchise for the installation of cable television in Ennis, County Clare; and if there are any conditions under which he might revoke this permission.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Clare Cable Television.
3.
The cable television franchise for Ennis was awarded to Westward Cables, Limerick, in 1984 following an open competition.
The holder of a cable franchise has certain obligations to meet. The decision to award a franchise could be reversed for unreasonable failure to meet such obligations.
I am not aware of any reason to consider rescinding the decision to award the cable television franchise for Ennis to Westward Cables Limited.
The facilities in the Ennis area with regard to television leave a lot to be desired. I appreciate the Minister was in the Shannon area recently in relation to a pilot scheme. Would he say that the delay here is so that the MMDS could be used in Ennis?
I am pleased to be able to tell the Deputy that Westward Cables Limited have reached an agreement with Telecom Éireann to use their fibre optic trunk cable to provide service to Ennis as they have done in Shannon. Telecom Éireann's cable will be extended from Shannon over the next few months and Westward Cables state that they should have the service provided to Ennis by optic fibre by the end of the year.