RTÉ should decentralise to Athlone, says singer

MUSICIAN and Fianna Fáil councillor, TR Dallas, wants the Government to decentralise RTÉ to Athlone.

Dallas, also known as Councillor Tom Allen, says millions could be saved by selling RTÉ’s Donnybrook studios and moving it “lock, stock and barrel” to the midlands.

He believes relocating RTÉ’s 1,500 staff could solve the financial problems of the cash-strapped station.

“I am serious about this,” said theWestmeath county councillor.

“I am sick and tired of hearing about RTÉ’s cash problems, and I believe the Government should step in and take action to give RTÉ a better future. I can well understand the problems in having enough money to run a huge enterprise like RTÉ,” he told the Athlone Voice newspaper this week.

“By moving to Athlone, they would be able to sell out in Donnybrook, making possibly between 50m and 100m in the process.

“I work in the auctioneering business, and I know that you would buy a huge portion of land, and do a lot of hi-spec building work, for a lot less than what they would get for Donnybrook.

“This move alone would wipe out RTÉ’s funding difficulties, and that would be great news for the station and for the country as a whole.”

Apart from the financial windfall, Mr Allen is adamant Athlone, or even Moate where he now lives, would prove an excellent location for the national broadcaster. RTÉ already has a substantial site at Moydrum, Athlone.

“It is located right in the middle of the country, which would mean that RTÉ could reach out to the four corners of Ireland a lot easier than they can from Donnybrook,” he said. “

Athlone is only three hours from any major news story anywhere in the country.”