Vol. 544 No. 4
225 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if following the passing of the Broadcasting Bill, 2000 the progress made in the roll-out of digital television; when she expects a service will be available to an estimated 97% of the population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29127/01]
I assume that the question relates to the roll-out of digital terrestrial television, DTT, and, accordingly, I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No 7 of 8 November 2001.
With regard to coverage, the Director of Telecommunications Regulation, who has statutory responsibility for the issue of the appropriate licences under sections 7 and 9 of the Broadcasting Act, 2001, has indicated in her report Licensing Digital Terrestrial Television – report on the consultation, ODTR 01/17, that the DTT transmission licence will require a roll-out of the DTT transmission network equating to approximately 65% population coverage at launch and approximately 95% population coverage after five years.
