Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2016
57. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he recognises the importance RTÉ long wave 252 will have for elderly Irish citizens in the United Kingdom now that the UK has voted to exit the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19133/16]
View answerIn September 2014 RTÉ announced plans to shut down their longwave 252 service which enables RTÉ Radio 1 to be broadcast into Britain. While the initial plan was for the longwave service to close on 27 October 2014, this was further deferred until 19 January 2015. On 18 December 2014 a decision was taken to continue Longwave Radio services until 2017.
Following this announcement I committed to commissioning research into the listenership figures in Britain for the RTÉ Longwave service using the Emigrant Support Programme. The purpose of this research was to obtain concrete data on the current listenership and also explore the possibility of continuing the service using alternate technologies.
The research was conducted by the Social Policy Research Centre at Middlesex University, who were appointed following a competitive tender process run by Irish in Britain. Information was gathered through individual submissions, group submissions and focus groups.
Overseeing the research was a Consultative Group of key stakeholders which is composed of representatives of RTÉ, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade officials as well as community representatives.
An executive summary of the research was published earlier last month. The figures show out of 3,191 people who completed the individual surveys, 72% of those who responded were over 60, while 68% of respondents were born in Ireland and 62% were retired. For the majority of respondents, Longwave was seen as a ‘lifeline’ to Ireland – helping them to maintain ‘a sense of Irishness’ and to keep up with events ‘back home’. The majority of listeners in the focus groups preferred the familiar, analogue service – as opposed to digital platforms, computers, laptops and smartphones.
The Government recognises the special value placed on RTÉ Longwave 252 by Irish citizens in the United Kingdom, especially the elderly, and my Department is working closely with RTÉ to ensure that the views of this community are heard in any decision making process.
While any decision on the future of longwave services in Britain is ultimately an operational matter for RTE, it can, as a result of the study, now be informed by awareness of the role that the service plays in preserving and enhancing links with Ireland and keeping our people in Britain informed of important events and developments, such as the UK’s vote to leave the EU and the Irish Government’s position.
A further meeting of the Consultative Group will take place over the coming months to consider the research findings in detail and discuss the next steps and I am hopeful that a positive outcome can be achieved.
