asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is aware that widespread dissatisfaction exists in West Cork at the unsatisfactory reception of Radio Eireann signals there, and, if so, whether he is prepared to consider the establishment of a booster station, or the operation of similar equipment, in the West Cork district to improve reception.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Radio Reception in West Cork.
The West Cork area is one of a number of areas in Ireland where reception of the Radio Éireann programmes is admittedly not satisfactory. The causes of the poor reception in these areas are well known. The first-class service area of a medium wave station with the power of Athlone does not extend beyond 80 or 90 miles from the transmitter, while that of lower power stations, like Cork and Dublin, does not extend beyond 20 miles or so from the transmitter. However, in districts outside the first-class service area it should ordinarily be possible to get reasonably good reception if a good earth and aerial and an efficient set are used.
Because of the large increase in the number of medium and long wave broadcasting stations in Europe in recent years, there are now far more stations in operation than there are wavelengths for them, and as a result there is a considerable amount of mutual interference between stations operating on the same or adjacent wavelengths. As we have not been able to get an exclusive wavelength for Athlone, Cork or Dublin, Radio Eireann programmes suffer a certain amount of interference from foreign stations. This becomes more pronounced after dark and is particularly noticeable in the southern parts of the country.
During the past two years an extensive survey of ways and means to improve the coverage of Radio Éireann has been carried out by Radio Éireann engineers. I understand that the engineers are agreed that the most satisfactory solution of the problem would be to install and operate a number of V.H.F. (very high frequency) transmitters to cover the parts of the country where reception from the present transmitters is not satisfactory. The capital cost of such a scheme would, however, be very high and the annual costs of operating the stations would also be substantial. Examination of the problem will continue so that a scheme will be ready when money will be available for carrying it out.