Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 July 2006
65 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if there have been developments to the digital television policy that Ireland informed the European Commission it was preparing in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26653/06]
View answer85 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of households which have a television; the number of households with two or more television sets; the breakdown of the main television platforms in households including satellite, Irish terrestrial, cable or MMDS and multi-terrestrial; if each individual television set in a household will need to be converted to digital; the percentage of digital households here; if the remaining households with a television set will be affected by the turning off of the analogue signal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26648/06]
View answer94 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the overall cost for the digital switch over, including costs for infrastructure, trials for promoting and evaluating DTT and DAB, costs for the simulcast period, of establishing a general digital information campaign and of developing a digital stakeholders group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26652/06]
View answer111 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if it is intended that digital television will be free to air; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26528/06]
View answer119 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on statements made by a European Commission official at the recent ComReg and OECD conference on spectrum management that the EU believes digital switch-over should be well advanced by 2010 in all Member States with a final deadline of early 2012; if he has made a decision on when the analogue signal should be switched off; if the analogue transmission network will survive beyond 2012 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26649/06]
View answer124 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the prospect of a national rollout of digital audio broadcasting services; his views on establishing a national information campaign to inform the general public on digital television and radio services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26651/06]
View answer125 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the way Irish digital television and broadcasting rollout compares with the best international performers in the UK, the rest of the EU and further afield; the level of digital development reached and that we should aspire to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26654/06]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 85, 94, 111, 119, 124 and 125 together.
A digital terrestrial television (DTT) pilot programme is currently being implemented by my Department. The purpose of the pilot is to bring further momentum to the transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting and to test and trial various aspects of the service.
The infrastructure for the DTT pilot is now in the roll-out phase and is expected to be operational by autumn 2006. The initial transmission sites are at Clermont Carn in the northeast and Three Rock covering parts of the Dublin region. The trial is planned to continue over a two-year timeframe and will provide the opportunity for technical and user testing of both existing and new broadcast services, including both television and audio services.
Figures by the CSO from February 2006 indicate that the total number of households with a television in 2005 was 1.43 million. Surveys by ComReg suggest that at the end of the first quarter of 2006, there were approximately 641,000 digital TV subscribers which include cable/MMDS and satellite customers. Digital households now represent approximately 45% of all households with a television.
At the end of the 1st quarter of 2006, there were approximately 570,300 subscribers to cable/MMDS television services in Ireland. Digital subscribers, as opposed to analogue subscribers, have increased in number, now representing 41% of cable/MMDS subscribers. Surveys by ComReg indicate that approximately 32% of Irish households currently receive free-to-air analogue services.
My Department's broadcasting policy objectives include seeking to retain access to a range of high quality programming in analogue and digital format on a universal and free-to-air basis. The DTT pilot demonstrates my commitment to the long-term provision of free-to-air DTT in Ireland. The trial will operate under a trial licence granted by Comreg and as such, it is not intended that any charges will be applied for services broadcast during the two-year period.
As the pilot is developed and proposals for a national DTT rollout emerge, I will outline my intentions regarding digital switchover. Switch-off of analogue television services is being strongly advocated by the European Commission, with 2012 a target date suggested by the Commission. While the pilot is underway, I intend to hold discussions with all relevant stakeholders around the issue of digital switchover.
When decisions have been taken about the nature and timing of analogue switch over, it will be necessary to ensure that Irish viewers are fully informed of all the issues arising.
According to a report by Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, nearly 70% of UK households received digital television services at the end of 2005. Western European countries have an average of 30% digital households while the United States have nearly 55% of households with digital services. Surveys indicate that Finland, Sweden, Norway and Italy all have at least 30% of digital households currently. By comparison, Ireland currently has approximately 45% of households receiving digital services.
67 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he is going to publish the Deloitte & Touche and William Fry solicitors report on TG4; if he has decided to make TG4 an independent statutory body; the timeframe for this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26628/06]
View answerI have examined the consultants' report on the implementation plan for the establishment of TG4 and have formulated my proposals, which I will circulate shortly to Government. I will consider publishing the report after the Government has considered my proposals.
