Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 15 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 1

Written Answers. - South Coast Community Television.

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

302 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the terms of reference of the international consultants appointed to assist South Coast Community Television in its application for a licence to govern its operations. [18505/96]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

It would not be correct to describe the consultancy project in question solely in the terms used by the Deputy. The consultants' primary task is to assist me in assessing the application.

The full terms of reference are as follows: to advise on the nature of the appropriate technical parameters to be provided by South Coast Community TV so that their application may be fully assessed; to provide a detailed analysis of the application which will allow the Minister to make a clear judgement on whether, and if so how, the proposed service should be licensed; in conjunction with the above and with reference to paragraph 127 of the Government's policy document,A Government of Renewal, to provide a general analysis of the feasibility of licensing other such systems; to advise and comment on the parameters and mechanisms used in the development of the UHF frequency plan for the four national TV services having regard to best practice in spectrum management; and to advise and comment, as is considered necessary, on the potential implications for capacity and coverage in the UHF broadcasting band of likely new technical developments in the broadcasting field.

In formulating the advice and analysis the consultant will have regard to: best practice in frequency planning and management of the UHF broadcasting spectrum and any relevant technical issues related thereto in the context of this application; the obligations which arise from existing assignments under the current national ratio frequency plan as it applies to the geographic area in question and the changes to that plan which are likely to arise from anticipated developments in radio frequency use and from international obligations; Government policy with regard to the establishment of two new TV channels — Teilifís na Gaeilge and TV3; and the co-ordination of radio frequency use with other administrations. The consultant may be requested to provide other advice and assistance to the Minister so that he may be in a position to discharge his obligations under the court judgment.