The 2017 agreement to discontinue use of longwave and use DAB was between RTE, the Irish Government and Irish in Britain, the national membership body for Irish community groups in the UK and charity. It followed a consultation after RTE proposed the closure of longwave in October 2014.

"The service will now continue until closure by June 2019...
RTÉ plan to launch a service on DAB+ digital radio modelled from RTÉ Radio 1 As a terrestrial radio service this is subject to regulatory approval in the U.K....
The broadcast will be transmitted via a chain of small broadcast networks which cover main urban centres. This is where the majority of RTÉ Longwave listeners live."

3200 people responded to the survey, 34% from NW England, 22% from London and the SE, 18% from the Midlands. London, Manchester and Liverpool I remember were three of the small scale DAB multiplexes they proposed using.

Ofcom agreed to change legislation so that RTE could be licenced to use DAB. This did not take place but is now part of the 2023 Media Bill published last week, expected to be passed this Parliamentary session, which would extend the analogue licencing framework to radio stations based in some overseas territories seeking to provide a service for UK listeners and mentioning this would firstly be with RTE.

RTE said in 2017 there would be some specific programming on small scale DAB for Irish Expats and the Irish Government said they would give some funding for the service,