asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether any action is at present under consideration for the improvement of television reception in the Fermoy area, County Cork; and, if so, what action it is proposed to take.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - TV Reception in Fermoy.
34.
I understand that the Fermoy area, County Cork, is one of a number of areas in the country where television reception is not entirely satisfactory. As I said in answer to a similar question on March 9th, the authority is carrying out surveys in these areas with a view to deciding what further action, if any, should be taken to improve reception.
The Minister mentioned a similar question on March 9th. I just want to say now that it must be eight months ago that I asked a question in almost the same terms as the one I have asked today and got the very same reply. In the meantime the people of the Fermoy area have had to put up with inferior television reception.
The Authority has erected 13 satellite transposers at different vantage points which are calculated to cover the maximum number of black spots. The last of these, the 13th, is not yet functioning but will be shortly. Even with that, there are still small pockets in different parts of the country now being surveyed with a view to seeing what will be necessary and what can be done to improve reception in those areas. This is a very costly business. Sometimes, to give reception to comparatively few people costs a very significant sum.
I accept the Minister's reply but will the Minister agree that, in reply to my question of seven or eight months ago, he told me that he hoped reception would be improved by January, 1966? We are now at the end of March and the reception is worse than ever.
He made a lot of promises at that time.
If the Deputy will go back and read my reply he will find that I made no definite promise but that I did say that a survey was undertaken. That is true, and that survey will not be completed for three to four months yet. As to what action will be taken then, I am not in a position to say now.
In the meantime, we will have to suffer on.