Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 3

Written Answers. - Television Reception.

Ivor Callely

Question:

88 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the progress, if any, made with the improvement works to the RTE transmitter at Clarmont Carn, County Louth; the likely improvement of services to audiences in Northern Ireland from such works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24961/96]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

As I indicated in my reply of 12 November 1996, column 734 of the Official Report for that day refers, the matter of RTE reception in Northern Ireland is being dealt with under the Anglo-Irish Conference where efforts are concentrated on increasing the power northwards from the RTE and Teilifís na Gaeilge transmitters at Clarmont Carn.

In May 1996 a report jointly agreed by the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications and the Radio Communications Agency in the UK concluded that practical and reasonable solutions to any potential problems could be identified. The report envisaged a phased increase in the power northwards of the Clarmont Carn transmitter.

If the power northwards at Clarmont Carn can be increased to the extent proposed in the agreed report RTE estimate that coverage will increase from the present level of 30 per cent of the population of Northern Ireland to approximately 60 per cent to 70 per cent. This increase would include a considerable number whose reception is so bad at present that the improvement brought about by the alterations to the Clarmont Carn transmitter will represent the first chance of reasonable reception. Viewers in the extended coverage area wishing to receive the services will, of course, have to have the appropriate aerial installations.

As I indicated in my earlier reply I wrote to the Secretary of State for National Heritage, who has functional responsibility for broadcasting matters in the UK, seeking political agreement to the proposed changes to the transmitter at Clarmont Carn on a phased basis. I recently received a substantive and favourable reply to that letter subject to the resolution of certain practical and financial issues with regard to the implementation of the technical plan.

I have indicated to the Secretary of State that RTE is prepared to bear the agreed engineering costs arising from the proposals. The other practical issues are being addressed as a matter of urgency by the officials concerned in my Department, the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications and RTE.