Written question asked by Robert McCartney (United Kingdom Unionist), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 February 1997. It was answered by Iain Sproat (Conservative) on Wednesday, 19 February 1997 on behalf of the Department of National Heritage.

Dept of National Heritage

Question: What estimate she has made of the cost of the engineering changes to UK transmitters of allowing the removal of power restrictions at the Clermont Carn transmitter in the Republic of Ireland in order to improve RTE coverage in Northern Ireland; and who will pay the costs of such changes.

Answer: Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the cost of the engineering changes to UK transmitters of allowing the removal of power restrictions at the Clermont Carn transmitter in the Republic of Ireland in order to improve RTE coverage in Northern Ireland; and who will pay the costs of such changes. [15821] Mr. Sproat: The Irish Minister for the Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht has given an assurance that RTE has undertaken to bear the engineering costs of UK broadcasters directly attributable to the proposed alterations to the Clermont Carn transmitter. The BBC and Independent Television Commission, which are responsible for television transmission arrangements in the UK, have estimated that the engineering costs of changes to UK transmitters attributable to an increase in the power of transmission from the Clermont Carn transmitter could be in the region of £650,000.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 15821; 290 c586W
Session: 1996-97
Subjects: Broadcasting Costs Engineering Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland Television RTÉ