Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 May 2012
26 Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that hundreds of unregistered digital installers are advertising the installation of Saorview; if he will consider setting up a register of digital installers to counteract this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21947/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra27 Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will set up a register of digital installers in view of the fact that hundreds of unregistered installers are operating at the expense of those who registered their businesses to provide the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21948/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together.
I have no function in relation to the matters raised by the Deputy. I have however, made enquiries with SAORVIEW. There is no registration system for installers of TV equipment in this country. I have been informed that SAORVIEW has established relationships with three trade bodies representing installers — the Irish Satellite and Aerial Association (ISAA), the National Guild of Master Craftsmen, and the Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI). It is my understanding that SAORVIEW has agreed with each of the bodies to the incorporation of the term "recognised by SAORVIEW" as part of each Group's logo, which can be displayed by installers who are members of the respective Groups and who adhere to certain conditions as set out by SAORVIEW.
I have been informed by SAORVIEW that it is very vigilant in monitoring the use of the SAORVIEW brand and follow up on complaints and any misrepresentation of SAORVIEW and, in certain instances, this has lead to legal correspondence being entered into. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear that, in terms of members of the public being solicited on a door-to-door basis by installers, neither SAORVIEW nor RTÉ are sending representatives to people's doors to check their televisions or aerials nor have they commissioned or endorsed any door to door sales activities under the SAORVIEW or RTÉ brand. Should the Deputy be aware of anyone misusing the SAORVIEW brand, or engaging in such misrepresentation, I would ask him to contact SAORVIEW directly.
28 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 402 of 14 February 2012 regarding Saorview and noting that up to 469,000 homes have acquired or will require a new digital primary television source by 24 October 2012, if he will provide a replacement scheme similar to the successful 2008 radio replacement scheme for marginalised low income families. [21700/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very much aware of the challenges digital switchover brings, in particular for households that are reliant on the existing "free to air" analogue TV network. It is estimated that about 250 thousand households are solely reliant on the Irish analogue TV network. A further 350 thousand households use the network for secondary TV's or as a back up. The necessary assistance and support for everyone but in particular for those households who need to make the switch to digital is being provided through a substantial national information campaign. In addition there is a community outreach programme aimed at providing local assistance to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in society. As I have stated in reply to previous questions, I do not propose to introduce grant schemes for this purpose.
Experience from other European countries indicates that the cost of set top boxes and other digital receivers reduces as the date for digital switchover approaches, and as competition increases in the market. There is clear evidence that this is now happening in Ireland with affordable set top boxes that meet the SAORVIEW standard on the market, as well as a wide range of suitable digital televisions. A small SAORVIEW TV can cost as little as €120 and set top boxes are now retailing from €70 or less. Experience from other European countries however shows that the availability of accurate and reliable information and the provision of practical assistance is the most effective approach towards assisting people in making the switch to digital television.
In this regard, therefore, to overcome the challenges that digital switchover brings, I have undertaken to deliver a substantial information campaign providing households with information on the digital switchover, the 24 October date for analogue switch off and on their options for going digital. This information campaign commenced in quarter four 2011 and includes a dedicated telephone helpline, 1890 840 980, a website www.goingdigital.ie, information booklets, TV and radio Ads and a PR campaign. An information booklet will also be delivered to every house in the country in the coming months. In conjunction with this, my Department has been working to address the particular information and assistance needs of vulnerable households as they prepare to go digital. On January 10th 2012, I signed an agreement with a national voluntary organisation, the Wheel, to develop and operate a nationwide community outreach digital switchover programme (Outreach Programme).
The Wheel, in conjunction with other voluntary and community organisations throughout the country, has now begun to roll out the countrywide Outreach Programme through a network of recently appointed county-based local Champions. The aim of the Outreach Programme, which will provide additional assistance and advice at community level to those who may find the move to digital TV difficult, is to ensure that everybody is made aware of the switchover and that no TV viewers are left without a TV service once the national analogue TV service switches off in October. A press release issued on the Outreach Programme and is available on the dedicated digital switchover website www.goingdidital.ie as is the list of local champions referred to above.
