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.