THE Government does not intend to publish a consultants' technical report on South Coast Community Television, which is seeking to legalise its deflector type system. However, the operators of SCCT will be provided with a copy "on a confidential basis" as soon as possible, sources said last night.
The Minister for Communications, Mr Dukes, is reconsidering the South Coast application in isolation, but, according to a spokeswoman for his Department, he will "take account of the wider situation in his decision".
When considering the report, Mr Dukes may also look at the impact that its general conclusion could have for deflector systems throughout the country.
In written replies to Dail questions from Galway East deputy Mr Noel Treacy (FF) this week, the Minister said his Department and the Government believed these television deflect or systems were operating illegally. However, the issue is politically sensitive in an election year, with local community lobby groups pressing for licences.
The Minister received the consultants' report last Tuesday. It provides detailed technical analysis of the application by South Coast Community Television based on the deflector type system of television retransmission used by it. It also deals with the impact of the South Coast transmitters on the frequencies available in the UHF band for national television services.
Mr Dukes said that before a decision could be made, he would have to give the issues very detailed consideration.