asked the Minister for Communications the parts of Ireland which still do not receive RTE radio and television; when reception will be available throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - RTE Reception.
23.
This is primarily a matter for RTE. RTE reports that the provision of full TV and radio reception coverage throughout the Republic is difficult due to the topography of the country.
RTE provides reception from a total of 46 high and low power transmitters scattered throughout the country. In addition a further 32 community-owned self-help systems extend coverage to small isolated pockets of poor reception. The population covered is in excess of 99 per cent, but the quality of reception varies from excellent to fair-to-poor.
There is still a small number of pockets of poor TV reception, mainly in counties Wicklow, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Monaghan and Tipperary. RTE is continuously extending and improving the network in areas where reception is not as good as RTE would wish it to be. The pace of this development is dictated by the availability of capital resources.
On radio coverage, RTE operates a total of 21 medium wave and VHF/FM transmitters. A programme to extend and improve VHF/FM stereo reception is continuing. Areas of priority, where FM reception is presently less than adequate are mainly in counties Cork, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Monaghan, Waterford and the Midlands. RTE medium wave reception is generally adequate, particularly during daylight hours. Reception on medium wave during the hours of darkness, however, is restricted in some areas, particularly in Kerry, Cork, Mayo and Donegal.