Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 6

Written Answers. - MMDS Technical Audit.

Séamus Hughes

Question:

137 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he intends to request the MMDS operator of cell Nos. 4,5 and 13 to carry out a technical audit to ascertain the percentage coverage feasible in the licence area in view of the assertion that approximately 70 per cent of householders will not receive coverage unless there is huge investment from tenders; and the level of investment to be committed by the MMDS operator to give effect to the terms of the licence issued in April 1991. [7815/97]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Dukes)

I have no plans to request the licensed MMDS operator for cells 4, 5 and 13 to carry out a technical audit as suggested by the Deputy. I am confident that the MMDS technology is such that if it was given a fair chance, multi-channel television service could be provided to the vast majority of homes in rural Ireland.

I am not aware of the assertion to which the Deputy is alluding and I do not know what or who these tenders are. I do know, and the Deputy should also be aware, that by their nature MMDS systems do require substantial levels of investment. Since the advent of MMDS the licensed operators have invested considerable amounts of money in the roll-out of their systems, and continue to do so, even in the face of sustained opposition from illegal deflector groups.

With regard to the Deputy's query on the level of investment to be committed by the licensed operator for cells 4, 5 and 13 that is a matter of detail for the license in which I have no function.

Séamus Hughes

Question:

138 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has satisfied himself since April 1991 that the MMDS operator in cell Nos. 4, 5 and 13 has complied with regulation 13 (2) of Statutory Instrument 39 of 1989; and, if not, the action, if any, he proposes to take in this regard. [7816/97]

Séamus Hughes

Question:

139 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has satisfied himself that the MMDS operator in cell Nos. 4, 5 and 13 has complied since April 1991 with regulation 13 (2) of Statutory Instrument 39 of 1989; and, if not, the action, if any, he proposes to take in this regard. [7817/97]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Dukes)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together.

As the licence for the cells in question was issued only on 1 April 1991, the provisions of Regulation 13 (2) of the Wireless Telegraphy (Television Programme Retransmission Licence) Regulations, 1989 did not, in fact, become applicable until 1 April 1992.

I understand that the current subscriber base in the area remains just short of the minimum number specified in the licence and that it has not reached the target level since the grant of the licence. Given the difficulties created for the roll-out of its service by the existence of illegal deflector operators in the area. I have no proposals to take action against the license on that account.