asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the poor quality of RTE television reception when available in Donegal particularly in the northern area of the county; and the plans he has to remedy the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Donegal RTE Reception.
17.
RTE are aware that television reception in parts of Donegal is less than adequate and are planning to provide new transposers which will provide RTE 1 and RTE 2 in colour to serve the area. RTE expect that the first phase of this work will be completed early in 1980.
Is the Minister now indicating that RTE have plans to provide a colour service for North Donegal from RTE 1, if we like to call it that, and RTE 2?
What work is proposed to be done?
They plan to provide a 625 line colour service for RTE 1 and RTE 2 on Moville, Fanad and Letterkenny transmitters.
In the meantime, since we are getting no service, and that is admitted by virtue of the fact that three booster stations are required and have never been provided, any question of non-payment of licence fees should be ignored as it obviously is being ignored to the extent of over £1 million throughout the country at the moment for no good reason.
I hesitate to answer such a question in case I might be accused of fatuous replies.
Does the Minister still wish to pursue the suggestion he made that where you do not get service you should not have a television set?
I said——
That is what the Minister said.
The Deputy's remark was that these people were getting no reception and I simply wondered in those circumstances why were people buying television sets if they could not see anything on them.
Surely the Minister is suggesting that if you do not get a service you should not buy a set.
That is what the Deputy is suggesting.
You have to buy the set to find out whether you get the service.
The Deputy's remarks are that these people are getting no reception. I wonder, in those circumstances, that they are buying television sets if they cannot receive anything on them.
Is the Minister suggesting that if one cannot get service one should not buy a television set? One has to buy a set to find out if one can get the service and it is, and has been, the policy of the Government and the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to indicate that they provide a service whereas they are providing no service in this area.
The licence fee is collected in respect of people who have a television apparatus. We do not know the extent to which people are actually enjoying the service in various parts of the country.
The State is obliged to provide equally for all and it is not so providing in the Donegal area and and the Minister knows that.
Would the Deputy please refrain from interrupting the Minister?
The Ceann Comhairle should be more concerned about his own constituency than about saving the Minister.
(Interruptions.)