The old UK channels using analogue signals were starting to get switched off in September 2011 – and many Irish residents who pick up BBC and ITV from Wales or Northern Ireland via an aerial will see those channels dissappear soon if they have not already done so.

The minority (340,000) of  households  in Ireland still use their TV ariel for watching TV  . The switch to digital TV will hardly affect the majority of the country’s consumers, who receive their TV from digital providers such as Sky (625,000) or UPC (375,000)

There will be 5 “new”  digital channels – RTÉ Two HD, RTÉ Aertel Digital, RTÉ jr, RTÉ One + 1 and RTÉ News Now.
In the UK – there are dozens of channels on their Freeview setup.

What Will You Need  to Buy ?

Set Top Box

The Digital TV  Saorview  signal can be received on all types of televisions from most aerials using a set-top box.
There are Saorview approved set top boxes – retailing at about €100. But any UK Freeview HD set top box will work.

Aerials

Some households may need to adjust or replace their aerial:  expect to pay about  €150.
Don’t be conned into paying for a new aerial if you don’t need one. If you currently can receive TV3 through your aerial then your aerial is most likely fine and is pointing in the right direction. You should not need to do anything with your aerial.

2. If you currently receive RTÉ One, RTÉ Two and TG4  through your aerial but do not receive TV3 then your aerial is most likely fine but for some homes it may be pointing in the wrong direction.

3. If you receive only RTÉ One and RTÉ Two through your aerial and do not receive TV3 and TG4 then you will probably need a new UHF aerial pointed at the best transmission site for your area.

Televisions

You don’t need a new TV – but If you are planning on buying a new TV – you should consider  a  television with Saorview built in or look for Freeview HD.
The 340,000 households that currently just view TV via an ariel – will be made up of a high proportion of elderly , rural dwellers and those on lower incomes.

Freeview televisions from the UK will not work with Saorview. But Freeview HD televisions should be able to pick up the Saorview signal.

Any  Television with an MPEG4 digital tuner should work. – Freeview HD uses MPEG4.

By October 2012 SAORVIEW should be accessible to 98% of the population.  Approximately 2% of the population will not be able to receive the SAORVIEW service.
RTÉ is currently in the process of also developing and testing a free-to-air satellite service, SAORSAT, which will make it possible for 100% of the population to access Irish free-to-air digital television channels and services. This will provide coverage to the homes not covered by SAORVIEW.

Ennis
Ennistymon
Ballintra
Ballinasloe
Gort
Inishere
Killimor
Kinvara
Loughrea
Roundstone
Spiddal
Dingle
Clogh-Castlecomer
Inistioge
Mountmellick
Kiltimagh
East Meath
Trim
Killarney

THMs  are Cancer Group B carcinogens (shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals). Trichloromethane (chloroform) is by far the most common in most water systems. Dibromochloromethane is the most serious cancer risk, (0.6 ug/l to cause a 10-6 cancer risk increase) followed in order by Bromoform (4 ug/l), and Chloroform (6 ug/l).

Carndonagh in Donegal and  Tipperary and Cashel in Tipperary are the top 3 towns in Ireland for lone mothers. All these towns have just over 25% of household units headed by lone mothers. 
Longford, Dingle  Carrick on Suir , Enniscorthy and Castleblaney  are close behind – all with over 23% of lone mother households.
Ireland as a whole has 15.43% of lone mother households.

 The five towns with the lowest percentage of lone mothers are  Dunshaughlin (9.1%) , Ratoath (7.9%) , Annacotty (7.8%), Stamullen (6.6%)  and  Newcastle (6.3%) 

Figures from 2006 Census