Vol. 481 No. 3
126 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if the people of Briska, Bangor Erris and Ballina, County Mayo, are entitled to a rebate of their television licences in view of the fact that they have had no television reception since early July 1997. [15981/97]
127 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if the people of Briska, Bangor Erris and Ballina, County Mayo, should be eligible for a reduced television licence fee in view of the fact that RTE expects them to pay for the repairs of their transmitter when such a service is usually provided nationwide for free. [15982/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 416 of 30 September 1997 regarding the Briska area of Bangor Erris, County Mayo.
The issue of television reception raised by the Deputy is the day-to-day responsibility of the RTE Authority and I have no statutory function in the matter.
However, RTE informs me that it has a long standing policy of assisting local communities in fringe reception areas by way of capital grants/annual maintenance contributions towards self help schemes which are transmission systems installed and maintained by local communities. RTE states that there are 110 such schemes in the country, one of which is in Briska. RTE has informed me that it authorised a payment of £300 towards repairs of this scheme on 6 May 1997 and has had no official contact since, other than a letter of acknowledgment and gratitude for the allocated moneys. I, therefore, suggest that the promoters of the system should establish fresh contact with RTE.
Under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts, 1926 to 1988, a television set is defined as apparatus for wireless telegeraphy and the requirement to hold a licence, granted on payment of the prescribed fee, in respect of the possession of a television set is a universal obligation. I have no plans to provide for reductions or rebates of the television licence fee as suggested by the Deputy and I consider that the operation of such a scheme would, in any event, be impractical.
