Vol. 439 No. 3
22 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will give details of the RTE survey recently carried out in the Maam area, County Galway, regarding inadequate RTE reception; the cost of the survey; when work will be carried out to provide a satisfactory signal in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
119 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if the work carried out to improve the RTE signal in the Leenane area of County Galway is working satisfactorily; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am taking Questions Nos. 22 and 119 together.
The issues raised by the Deputy are the day to day responsibility of the RTE Authority and I have no statutory function in these matters. In accordance with long-standing custom, I am prepared to furnish to the House information supplied by RTE in response to questions relating specifically to improvements in reception of the national broadcasting services. In this regard RTE has advised me that reception in the Leenane area has improved in recent months but that some technical alterations have yet to be completed. With regard to the Maam area RTE advises that its survey identified the need for two lower power transposers. The performance of these transposers could be adversely affected if the technical modifications at Leenane are not carried out. The necessary planning and preparatory work is continuing, however, in respect of the masts and buildings required for the project.
