Ruairí Quinn
Question:14 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Communications if Radio Tara have paid the broadcasting licence fee; the amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Radio Tara.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:15 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Radio Tara continued to broadcast after 7 p.m. on more than one occasion; if permission was sought for same; if so, if it was granted; the purpose for which it was granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Séamus Pattison
Question:20 Mr. Pattison asked the Minister for Communications if the advertising revenue of Radio Tara has fallen far short of the projected amount in order to make a profit; the operating loss in 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 15 and 20 together.
Radio Tara have been licensed to RTÉ under the Broadcasting Authority Acts 1960-1979. RTÉ are not charged a fee for their broadcasting licence. Tests have on occasion been carried by Radio Tara after 7 p.m. to determine reception quality in their primary reception area. However, such broadcasts were made at the reduced power of 100 KW fully in accordance with the licence issued to RTÉ.
Accounts for Radio Tara Ltd. in respect of the period ended 31 December 1989 — at which time, I would point out, Radio Tara was in operation for only three months — have not yet been audited. While initial indications are that advertising revenue has been less than projected, RTÉ remain confident that the service will operate profitably.
I should like to thank the Minister for his succinct reply. Is he aware that there are objections from people living in the immediate vicinity of the Radio Tara station about the operation of that station? Is the Minister aware that the transmissions from that station are interfering with some telephone calls in the area?
Yes.
Has the Minister any proposals to deal with this? Can he give any indication to the people affected that the problems will be solved?
In relation to interference with telephones Telecom Éireann have been in contact with the subscribers who have made complaints. Most of the problems have been solved. RTÉ and Radio Tara, have been co-operating fully in this matter. Details of complaints, if forwarded to RTÉ, will be taken up by Telecom Éireann.
Will the Minister agree that when planning permission was being sought for the erection of this station Telecom Éireann at the hearings indicated that they anticipated there would be problems?
Yes.
I should like to ask the Minister if in view of the fact that there was a significant public investment through RTÉ in this project he will obtain some more up-to-date figures on the advertising revenue of Radio Tara than those to which he has referred. Will the Minister indicate if monthly accounts of advertising revenue are being kept? Will he agree that in the House I indicated my belief that there was a serious question mark over the long term, even the medium term, economic viability of this project on the long wave, leaving aside the many objections that exist to the sitting of the mast?
The Deputy, as a former Minister for Finance, will be aware of when the project was originally approved. That was done prior to my arrival in the Department of Communications. Accounts for Radio Tara for the year ended 31 December have not been audited but unaudited accounts show an operational loss of the order of £260,000. The results would suggest, as the Deputy has said, that advertising revenue was not as high as was projected. However, it must be pointed out that the station was only three months in operation at the end of December last. RTÉ are hoping the service can break even in 1990.
It would want to do more than that to justify the expense.
I would not disagree with the Deputy.