andMr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that cable TV is used in Belgium to relay almost all European TV programmes; if he has considered the use of similar procedures in this country to relay RTE, UTV and BBC Northern Ireland, to the whole of this island; and if representatives of his Department will participate in a research project on cable TV and its application in European countries to be undertaken at the request of the European Commission.
Written Answers. - TV Relay Systems.
151.
I understand that in Belgium television programmes from a few neighbouring countries are distributed by cable but that only about 170,000 Belgium homes are connected to cable television systems.
I would refer the Deputies to what I said on 13th December, 1972, in my reply to the debate on the Estimate for my Department about the difficulties of extending multi-channel viewing facilities to areas which do not at present receive BBC and ITV programmes and in particular to my statement that the solution of this problem on a national basis is not to be found by extension of relay systems.
I understand that the research project in question has been entrusted to a research institute in Paris and that participation by representatives of European countries is not involved for the present at any rate.