Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 2

Written Answers. - Television Reception.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

454 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her attention has been drawn to the poor quality reception for RTE 1, Network 2 and TG4 at Cross, Quigley Point area, Inishowen, County Donegal; and if she will request RTE to take steps to improve reception in that particular area. [8185/02]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

The issue raised is the day-to-day responsibility of the RTE authority and I have no statutory function in the matter.

In accordance with longstanding custom, I am prepared to furnish to the House information supplied by RTE in response to questions relating specifically to improvements in reception of national broadcasting services.

RTE informs me that it carried out a detailed survey of the area in November 2001 which showed that the reception was very marginal. The provision of a community system could solve the problem but, due to cross-channel interference from Scottish Television on RTE's Moville transmitter, it was not possible to locate an adequate receiver signal suitable for re-transmission. RTE has informed me that it informed a residents' spokesperson about the situation in December 2001.