Vol. 427 No. 3
15 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being encountered by residents at Belmont Road and Rockshire, Ferrybank, County Kilkenny regarding the absence of a proper multi-channel television service for the area; if he will carry out an investigation to ensure that proper service is given to these people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The provision of cable service to any particular area or address is a matter for the relevant licensed cable operator. Cablelink (Waterford) Ltd. hold the licence for the provision of cable television service to Waterford city and the Ferrybank area is within the boundary of the licence.
Cablelink have advised that the main difficulty with provision of cable service to Belmont Road is the necessity to cross the main Waterford to New Ross road (N25). Cablelink are in touch with Kilkenny County Council concerning the possibility of getting duct space to cross that road in order to get service to the homes on Belmont Road at a reasonable price. Cablelink expect to be in a position to provide MMDS service in the Rockshire Road area in the summer.
I wish to thank the Minister for his reply in relation to this matter. Would he consider it reasonable to expect that a service should be provided to the residents I mentioned in my question when they are willing to pay for this service and to pay now? Great efforts were made by the residents of the area to get a commitment from Cablelink, Waterford, and to elicit the type of information the Minister is giving to this House. Would the Minister not agree that it would have been much easier had the company given this information to the residents rather than having a Dáil Deputy raise the matter here? Would the Minister and his Department take a personal interest in making sure that the company honours the commitments entered into and conveyed to the Department?
Yes, and I am sure that the Deputy will use his good offices at the Kilkenny County Council to make sure that the proposed duct is approved, because without that duct it would be hard to provide multi-channel television there.
Given the context of this question, is the Minister satisfied that the development of the MMDS is proceeding sufficiently quickly? Does he accept that this problem mirrors similar problems experienced all around the country? I understand that Cablelink and Telecom Éireann have reached agreement with regard to the use of Telecom ducts. Would the Minister make sure that as a result of that agreement a more speedy effort is made to effect the provision of Cablelink television in areas where it is not provided at present?
This question is confined to the extension of multi-channel television to Belmont Road and Rockshire, Ferrybank, County Kilkenny, and I am afraid that I cannot allow an extension beyond the general question raised.
I live about 100 yards from there.
Would the Minister allow an extension of the link?
We will have to try to seek the provision of the MMDS system throughout the country. In the areas in which the MMDS system is operating at present, including my own county, it is working very well.
