asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if his Department will grant a licence or licences for multi-channel television in the West Waterford towns of Cappoquin, Lismore and Tallow and in any other town in the country where reception is available through cable-vision.

The position in regard to the former single channel area is that my Department have organised competitions in respect of the issue of exclusive licences for the provision of multi-channel cable television systems in the cities of Cork and Galway. Letters of intent to grant a licence in respect of Cork and Galway cities have been issued to Cork Communications Ltd. and Tele Electrics Ltd. of Galway respectively. In both cases the companies in question must comply with certain requirements before a licence can be issued. It would be premature to give any undertaking regarding the issue of licences in respect of smaller towns until it is demonstrated that a satisfactory multi-channel service will be available in Cork and Galway.

Has there been an application for a licence for the towns of Cappoquin, Lismore and Tallow?

It was indicated by the company serving Cork that they could serve Lismore and Tallow but no decision has been given on that yet. So far as that indication was given one could say it was an application but it has not been formalised.

Will the Minister give favourable consideration to any such application seeing that it is on the route to Cork city?

I will give consideration to this as requested.