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Television Reception

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 July 2012

Thursday, 19 July 2012

Questions (433)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

440 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if financial assistance will be provided to old age pensioners to allow them to switch over to digital television on the 24 October 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36126/12]

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Written answers

First of all, I would like to point out that TV viewers who use the analogue TV network will need to make the change to digital in advance of 24 October and not on 24 October. TV viewers who currently use pay TV are unaffected. On 24 October our free to air national analogue TV network which has operated since 1962 will be switched off for good. The replacement digital free to air TV network, SAORVIEW, has been nationally available since May 2011. Alternatively, TV viewers can choose to upgrade to a pay TV service such as cable or satellite.

I am very much aware of the challenges digital switchover brings for those households that are reliant on the existing "free to air" analogue TV network. In this regard I have chosen to operate both a national information and awareness campaign plus an outreach programme, to provide the assistance and support necessary for everyone to make the switch. As I have stated in reply to previous questions, we have not and do not propose to introduce grant schemes for this purpose.

Experience from other European countries indicates that the cost of set top boxes and other digital receivers reduces as the date for digital switchover approaches, and there is increased competition in the market. There is clear evidence that this is now happening in Ireland with affordable set top boxes that meet the SAORVIEW standard on the market, as well as a range of suitable digital televisions. In addition, experience from other European countries also shows that the availability of accurate and reliable information and the provision of practical assistance is the most effective approach towards assisting people in making the switch to digital television.

In this regard, therefore, to overcome the challenges that digital switchover brings, I have undertaken to deliver a substantial information campaign providing households with information on the digital switchover and on their options for going digital. The campaign commenced on 14 October 2011. There are a number of strands to the campaign, including a national telephone helpline and a national advertising and public relations campaign. An information booklet has also been delivered to every household in the country. The campaign will run up to the end of 2012.

In conjunction with this, my Department has been working to address the particular information and assistance needs of vulnerable households as they prepare to go digital. On 10 January 2012, I signed an agreement with a national voluntary organisation, the Wheel, to develop and operate a nationwide community outreach digital switchover programme (Outreach Programme).

The community umbrella group, The Wheel, in conjunction with voluntary and community organisations throughout the country, began to roll out a countrywide Outreach Programme in April/May 2012. The campaign is being run through 26 County and Local Champions who coordinate activities at a local level with the objective of providing additional assistance and advice at a community level to those who may find the move to digital TV difficult. The aim of the Outreach Programme is to ensure that everybody is made aware of the switchover and that no TV viewers are left without a TV service once the national analogue service switches off on 24 October 2012. A press release issued on the Outreach Programme and is available on the dedicated digital switchover website www.goingdidital.ie, as is the list of Local Champions referred to above. As there is less than 100 days to go before the 24 October deadline, I would urge all Deputies to engage with the Outreach Programme at their local level in order to urge constituents to move to digital now and not to wait until the last minute.

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