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LAST UPDATE | 6 Sep 2023
RTÉ HAS SOUGHT €34.5 million in additional funding, Media Minister Catherine Martin has confirmed.
Speaking to reporters after Cabinet today, which was held in Avondale in Wicklow, the minister said that in addition, the projected licence fee deficit is expected to be €21 million.
She said that the the government was not going to just accept the figures that were presented by the national broadcaster.
The figures will be independently verified by New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA), which provides financial advisory services to government, which will report back in two weeks.
“That’s the figure that they’re interrogating now and that’s what will inform my discussions,” said Martin.
The minister would not be drawn on whether the government would commit to giving RTÉ €55.5 million, stating that it was a matter for budgetary discussions, which have yet to take place.
She confirmed that additional funding will be given to the broadcaster, as such a commitment had already given last year, but the amount is still up in the air.
The minister pointed out that the full amount of money RTÉ sought in additional funding was not provided by government last year, reiterating that final decisions on this year’s budget are yet to be made.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said today that he believes the vast majority of the public do value public service broadcasting.
“But I don’t think that the Irish public would accept a financial bailout of RTÉ with no strings attached. There has to be strings attached,” he said, stating the funding would have to be “conditional”.
“And that’s why we’re not in a position to sign off on something like that, until we’ve seen the new strategy and the reform plan,” he said.
Director General of RTÉ Kevin Bakhurst will have to decide what needs to be done in order to reduce costs, said Martin, stating that such measures will be outlined in the strategic vision report, which is due to be ready in October.
The minister said she did not believe the report would be ready for budget day on 7 October.
However, the Taoiseach said today that the government want to see RTÉ’s reform plans and strategy.
“I don’t think we’d be in a position to sign off on additional funds for RTE this year unless we see that and we’re happy with it,” said Varadkar.
A controversy that engulfed the national broadcaster in June after revelations about the underreporting of the salary paid to star present Ryan Tubridy has triggered a multi-million euro drop-off in the collection of TV licence revenue.
On wider licence fee reforms, the Taoiseach said he is giving a commitment that a system will be in place by 2025.
“We can’t continue to deal with this issue on a year by year basis,” he said.
He added that it is very clear to him that the funding should go to the wider media industry that also provides public service broadcasting.
“I believe we can make the political decisions necessary on that this year, legislate for it next year, and have it in place in 2025,” said Varadkar.
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The begging bowl out again for a shambles organization ,, maybe hold off with the hand out till Forbes tells the truth ,,
@Trent: What about the 150k brown-envelope paid to RT through the secret account? Do we get that back at all – or is that forgotten about?
@Tom Murphy: .. Have you just been released from an asylum ,,coz it sounds like it ,,, take care and watch the traffic ,,
@Trent: no chance she will ever appear to answer any questions. She’s way above answering to plebs
@Jp Cleary: And that carry on dosen’t bother ye ,, your paying her wages and pension through your Taxes
The minister should put it to the people in a referendum whereby they wanted a television station or not it. Is called democracy
@John Boyle: i thought referendum could only be held on stuff in the constitution
@Margaret Deacon: Same sex marriage wasn’t in the constitution
@John Boyle: I thought as far as the law stands, they can just assume that 99% of people in Ireland watch RTE and therefore it’s legal to pursue them for TV licence payments. That’s not democracy at all.
@John Boyle: democracy is electing a Government, public service broadcasting isn’t part of the constitution
There are talented creative people all over this country working for peanuts or not working at all. RTE be a launch pad for our best and brightest, not a VIP lounge for the establishment and their friends and family.
@Louis Jacob: what’s on rte I certainly wouldn’t rate they’re talent that’s for sure
@Paddy C: The pinnacle of RTE was LoveHate i believe, everyone loved that programme.
@Canada Goose G Dog: il give them that but still people won’t pay for what they’re getting at the min,the news is decent on it to be fair and a lot want the sport but hard to justify much else which means all that’s really needed is the rte news now channel in my opinion
It is utterly amazing in this country.Your company records a near €3m deficit, the board reward themselves with a 10% pay rise then look for €34m from the government.I mean..seriously!!
@Gerry Lamont: great country
@Gerry Lamont: what else did you expect from ffg?? Have they ever done anything for the people that didn’t involve them or their cronies??? But it’s alright because according to some sf/Ira are the worst people on the this island
@Paddy C: it truly is, but as long as you’re not a taxpayer, don’t have mortgage or rent and don’t have kids.
#AbolishTheTelevisionTaxNow
I still have no recollection of whether the €107 million paid to RTÉ by Cairns Homes for sale of land in Montrose was ever referred to. After what was revealed, sure it’s only petty cash!
The Government gave RTE a bailout in 2019 of €40 Million Euros to be drawn down at €10 million a year…No mention of this little fact by RTE or Government. This was taxpayers money…The RTE scandal is just another scandal among the scandals brushed under the carpet..funded by the Taxpayers.
Time for Subscription! Stop asking Struggling Families for money!!!
@Mick Hanna: why on earth would it go subscription? Surely it would just be free to air with even more adds.
@Martin Mongan: So People Have a Choice and NOT be Forced into paying for a service they Don’t Want.
Ireland s national embarrassment Joe Duffy gave his whole programme talking about sweets RTE s biggest earner.
@john mcgrath: so your a joe fan seen as though you listened to the whole joe show ;]
6 million lost in TV tax, lol
Actually it’s 21 million and growing!
@Mick Hanna: Actually it’s 6 million projected to be 21 million.
It is a service that is no longer required. TG4 and Virgin do a better job and international news can be got through BBC, Euronews and Sky News (which is already free on Saorview). Redeploy the staff to teaching and Garda admin roles.
At least 12 sanctimonious grossly overpaid ‘star’ Presenters,10 radio stations, 4 TV stations, 2 Orchestras, 2 Choirs, a String Quartet, a Publishing Company, and possibly a Partridge in a Pear tree. Before any bailout is even discussed let alone entertained, this Frankenstein menagerie must to be sorted. Enough is enough.
Cut the salary of all executives and have all salaries of so called stars cut or get new blood in on a decent but not outrageous wage and perks.. and make RTE a non political station
I’m sorry Leo, but where is this “vast majority” you’ve talking about & by where I mean show is the data to back up that claim
@mainmsam: exactly. Every comment, bar one or two, is to get rid of this dinosaur of a service. Turn it to a subscription service and see how they do.
How about clawing back former CFO Breda O’Keefe’s illegal redundancy package that was never signed off on by the rté board…. Just how much of the publics money did her buddy Dee Forbes allow her to walk out the door with. Beyond contemptible.
Good question posed by Tony Peacock above……where did the €107m go that RTÉ got for the sale of land at Montrose? Any takers to reply to this?
It’s as un-fixable as the councils, HSE and CIE. They are all left overs from the soviet era where people got cushy jobs for life with half the staff doing sweet f all and us, the taxpayer, paying for it.
Here we go….. said it a few weeks back….looking for about 40 mill.
Drop the Eurovision song contest for a start to save a few Euro
Sell RTE 2 Fm or whatever its called and let someone else make a go of it
Any chance our government who are entrusted with the public purse would say enough is enough to these scroungers and tell them to fund their own organisation. Go subscription and see how ye get on
Can Varadkar tell us which part he thinks is public sector broadcasting?
The Paddy Power and Heineken advertisements?
Mrs Brown Boys?
Reeling in the Years (as seen from the eyes of Bob Geldof in his deprived/desolate mindset?
Defaming Fr Reynolds?
Chasing Rory McIlroy around the globe?
‘Dancing’ with Dessie Cahill?
Court Reports/Garda press releases?
15 minutes of a muddled weather forecasting that treats Clifden same as Portumna 90 miles away because for all they care, it is all Galway.
Highlighting a single incident of a calf being roughly handled and ignoring the almost nightly horrific dog attacks on farm animals
Highlighting an assault in central Dublin, but ignoring an attack in a pensioner’s home in the midlands
etc.
Tubbins will have to make his toys by hand this year. He has lots of free time.
It’s in tubs account
Perhaps Renault and Volvo might chip in !?!
The neck on them..
Shocking!! No private organisation would survive. It would be wound up and assets sold off!!
The minister would not be drawn on whether the government would commit to giving RTÉ €55.5 million.
Or is it 35??
How about instead of funding RTE they fund psychiatric care for you adults/kids.
Reduce the disgsuting wait time for suicidle teens instead of funding more ojbs for the boys at RTE?????
God forbid
@Hurrly 90: I hate the lack of editing of comments.
Well so long as the 250,000 plus expenses is ready for kielty that’s the main thing anyone struggling financially can sod off pay you’re tv licence watch rte and figure out how to stretch what’s left.
34.5 million euro, not 35 million euro… that would seem like too much.
A certain criminal pleaded guilty in Spain for trying to import drugs to ireland in flip flops is this a coincidence
I’m getting tired of this country,I’m too old to emigrate,too young to die,I’ve nothing in my pocket,no hope,no joy. Just live week to week with nothing but bullsh11t from this government and anything that is connected to them.
Is there any truth in the rumour that RTE are about to get stung for millions, in relation to the bogus employment? Supposedly some solicitor has taken the case on for numerous staff, going back decades, and payments are meant to run into millions due to staff and revenue.
I’m looking forward to the prime time investigates documentary on the corruption that lies at the heart of the organization.
I wish I never paid mine now. It looks like there is no punishment for anyone not paying.
Varadkar should pay it from his piggy bank if he thinks it’s a good service
Is this a joke
Of course the government will bail them out. How else will they control the narrative? Easy to control editorial when you own them
@christopher byrne: that’s the whole point having a TV license, it ensures RTE is completely independent
@Oisin CK: ROFLMAO!!!
So rte just like the fai will end up with even more money than they were originally getting but there’s people out there that still vote ffg. Un f ing believable. Time to take the blinkers off lads
Time to wind it up. Surprised the likes Joe Duffy still have air time, but even more surprised people still listen to his crusade against the taxpaying public.
I wonder what the salary /expenses bill for the 27 NewERA employees is?
RTE get funding from advertising, corporate sponsorships and product placement.
If they ever made anything decent they could also sell the rights abroad.
They shouldn’t need license fee income! Take it away, they’ll manage just fine without it.
Give it to them or we’ll end up watching repeats of Love Island.
According to Census 2022 there are 1.8m households in Ireland. But 800k are listed as exempt (the majority identifed as Free TV for over 70′s) – based on An Post figures. So their License Fee take from private households should be around 160million – they are predicting 21 million shortfall which is 131,000 households (13%) that are predicted not to pay this year – but there is always a rush towards the end of the year. Last year the figure was around 50,000 households (around 5%) that did not pay, which is nearly the same every year. The Tubridy Effect is definitly not a huge driver here. How many more households joined the exempt list for this year? Our population is ageing faster than the rate that new households are being ‘created’. Anyway, this comment is as pointless as RTE itself!!
@Seamus Cooke: So you think our ageing population has increased 3 fold in 1 year?
Wrong…
Totally Tubirdy effect.
55.5mil …wow that’s a lot of money..where’s this new guy that’s sorting out rte,what’s his comment about this ? Or is he coincidentally laying low or maybe on his jolly’s already..
Anyone get the feeling that if you had paid the license before the scandal that you are going to end up paying for it again through taxes?
Which proves the mismanagement of RTE, the over staffing and the squandering of money long predates Tubidy. He was set up.
@Pat Redmond: Tubirdy was being paid by RTE since he was 12.
12… how did they spot this “talent” at 12 years old?
The only one who set Tubirdy up was Tubirdy.
Pure greed, lies and not being able to know when to shut up.
He was on the verge of singing a €170k a year contract for 1 hour of work per day (1 hour per day!!!)
So please, he was clearly not set up.
And it’s reported, RTE staff shocked that executives got a 10% pay rise.
If there’s one thing that really annoys the Irish people it’s someone going away and sending daily messages home taunting us about how exciting life is abroad and trying to make us mad with envy as we continue with our boring little lives.
It’s particularly galling when the people with the boring little lives have paid for the exciting life of the pratt who’s boasting.
Rte is a complete joke spending money they don.t have and wasting money they did have
Ok put it to a poll ?
Does anyone have anything positive to say about rte. anything. Anyone ?
150k is the licence fee of nearly 1,000 Irish workers – nearer to 1,500 if you include the fees paid in try to hide it. Every day in our newspapers we see pictures of him enjoying it to the full in London – and he’s got the weather for it too.
The luck of the Irish?
Just sell it off and close it down they should not receive a single cent of tax payers money
Then send the poll to varadkar?
He seems disillusioned about the people’s sentiments on the matter
They can always have a raffle or whip round outside Ryan Tubirdy’s house…just saying.
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