Vol. 289 No. 6
(Dublin Central) and Mr. Gallagher asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that RTE's plans for the second television channel will, if implemented, involve viewers in parts of County Mayo in some considerable expense if they wish to retain the present service; and if he will consider compensating those affected.
31.
(Dublin Central) and Mr. Gallagher asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that RTE's plans for a second television channel will, if implemented, involve alteration to the transposer station at Glenisland, County Mayo and will result in loss of the present service due to the fact that the sets and aerials will not be capable of receiving the new signal.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together.
I am aware that the plans for the second television service involve changing the frequency used by the transposer at Glenisland, Castlebar, County Mayo which transmits the existing television service. Viewers served by this transposer will need to have their aerials or aerials and sets modified to receive these programmes on a new frequency which has yet to be decided. RTE and my Department are very conscious of the need to minimise inconvenience to viewers. The modifications needed will depend on the final plans for the transposer and may not be very significant.
In addition, viewers who are within the service area of Truskmore transmitter will be affected. The polarisation of this transmitter is being changed from vertical to horizontal and the polarisation of viewers' rooftop aerials will have to be changed also from vertical to horizontal. This is quite a minor job. 405 line transmissions from Truskmore are also being ceased. Any viewers still depending on sets capable of receiving 405 line transmissions only will have to change their sets if they wish to receive RTE programmes.
I regret that I cannot agree to compensate those affected by adjustments in the existing TV service which, unfortunately, are unavoidable if the new service is to be provided at minimum cost for the maximum number of viewers.
The Minister told us in his reply that people will have to discard their present sets and aerials will have to be changed. Does he consider this fair to people who have gone to considerable expense to provide television sets and would he not agree that the people of Mayo who will suffer because this is being done for the benefit of the people of Galway are entitled to some compensation?
Mayo is not, of course, the only area where inconvenience will arise as a result of changes in frequency usage arising from the provision of the second service. The only people who will really have to replace their sets are those who have old sets depending on 405 line transmission. These have had fair notice of this change. It was announced in March, 1974, that 405 line transmission would be ceased within two years or so. This meant that the second service would be provided by VHF on four of the five main transmitters as compared with only two if the 405 line service was not ceased. I think adequate notice has been given and I do not think any great suffering is involved. Most of the changes over can be done at quite a low cost.
(Dublin Central): Would the Minister agree that this will cause considerable hardship to old age pensioners and the poorer section in the community in that part of the country? My information is that there are about 5,000 receiving sets involved here. I am not sure whether those are all 405, but I would be concerned about such people having to purchase a new set and at the same time having to replace an aerial. I doubt very much——
I must dissuade the Deputy from making a speech.
(Dublin Central): Would the Minister make any provision for this section?
I have already indicated that considerable notice was given of the cessation of 405-line transmission, which is the main hardship, if the Deputy looks at it in that way. Many of these sets are quite old and would need to be replaced. Broadcasting is an area of necessary technological change. I am sorry if there is any hardship at all but I think it is minimal.
(Dublin Central): Has the Minister any costings in this regard?
There would be different varieties of costings involved in accordance with what had to be done, what the original set was, what the change required was and so on. I do not think the Ceann Comhairle would permit me to give an answer of the length required.
(Dublin Central): Could the Minister give any costings apart from the replacement of the set? There are other adjustments like the replacement of an aerial. I believe all aerials in that part of the country will have to be replaced.
If I may I will communicate privately with the Deputy and let him have whatever information I have.
The remaining questions will appear on the Order Paper for the next sitting day of the Dáil.
