Vol. 571 No. 4
516 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he has received a query or request from a particular local authority regarding the inclusion in the over-all costs of local authority housing schemes of a financial contribution towards the cost of providing cable television services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22258/03]
It has been normal practice for cable television providers to supply the infrastructure in relation to the provision of cable television for new housing developments, including local authority housing developments, at their own cost. These costs are subsequently recouped from the customer by a combination of connection and rental charges. My Department is aware that a cable television provider has requested contributions from a local authority towards the cost of providing the cable television infrastructure in new housing developments. It is under stood that one local authority has declined to pay this financial contribution and has requested the supplier to reconsider its position in demanding a capital payment from the local authority.
