Former election candidate involved in digital switchover campaign

Former Labour general election candidate Jim O'Brien from Rosenallis in Laois is helping Gay Byrne herald the digital switchover campaign. The 'digital outreach champion' is one of 23 selected to spread the word about the switchover. Ireland's analogue television signal will be switched off on October 24, and currently about 250,000 households relying on an aerial to watch television still need to take action to ensure they can continue to watch television after that date. Mr O'Brien is currently contacting community organisations interested in getting involved with the programme. "This will take a huge community effort," he said. "We want to make sure that nobody in Offaly and Laois is left behind, especially people who are more isolated where television is an important part of their contact with the outside world." Mr O'Brien said anyone interested in helping with the switchover project locally doesn't need any technical expertise. Guidance on the switchover is available at www.goingdigital.ie. Phone information is also available in English by calling 1890 940980 and in Irish by calling 1890 940970. Information booklets are also available in post offices and Citizen Information centres throughout the country.