Introduction to TV and social inclusion

Last Updated (Friday, 01 May 2009 10:57)

Television is one of the main sources of information, education and entertainment for people in Ireland, particularly for older or disabled people who may be physically and socially isolated. It is especially important for people who are vision impaired, deaf or hard of hearing and face difficulties accessing printed or spoken media. The European Parliament has described access to television as a “fundamental right” and “of fundamental importance for democracy, freedom of expression and cultural pluralism”. The accessibility and affordability of television is therefore a basic requirement for the social inclusion of older people and people with disabilities.

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Government researching need for switchover assistance

Friday, 13 August 2010 09:42

The Dept of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources today issued a request for tenders for research into the current geographic and demographic television reception mechanisms in Ireland, with particular emphasis on analogue terrestrial.

They intend this research to inform their switchover policy, in particular concerning the provision of "supportive policy interventions/options". Among the questions the research should answer are:

• socio-economic circumstances of analogue-only TV households;
• the ability of these analogue-only TV households to upgrade to a digital television service;
• the number and location of TV households where some form of assistance may be required in the upgrade to digital;
• the type of assistance that such houses may need to upgrade to a digital service.

We hope the results of this research will create an accurate picture of the need for practical and financial assistance among older, disabled and/or people on low incomes.