Written Answers. - RTE Service.
Austin Currie
Question:
59
Mr. Currie
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications
the parts of Ireland which still do not receive RTE radio and television; when reception will be made available throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
This is primarily a matter for RTE.
RTE report that the provision of TV and radio reception coverage throughout the Republic is difficult particularly in coastal areas due to the topography of the country, and that 100 per cent coverage is virtually impossible by terrestrial transmitters.
RTE provide TV reception from a total of 46 high and low power transmitters scattered throughout the country. In addition a further 35 community owned self-help systems extend coverage to small isolated pockets of poor reception. The population coverage is in excess of 98 per cent for TV coverage, 97 per cent for FM radio coverage and AM medium wave is in excess of 99 per cent. However, the quality of reception varies from excellent to fair to poor in some remote mountainous areas.
The remaining pockets of poor TV reception are mainly in north Wicklow, west Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Monaghan and Tipperary. RTE are 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 directed by the availability of capital financing.
On radio coverage, RTE operate 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 at present less than adequate are mainly in Cork, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Monaghan, west 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.
