Martin: RTÉ facing €61m TV licence shortfall 

Media Minister Catherine Martin indicated the Government would likely give RTÉ an extra bailout worth €40m but said she and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe want to see director general Kevin Bakhurst’s cost-cutting plan first before handing over the money.

Media Minister Catherine Martin has revealed RTÉ is facing a TV licence fee shortfall of €61m for this year and next year.

Ms Martin made the revelation at her department’s post-budget press conference hours after news emerged that RTÉ’s chief financial officer Richard Collins had resigned.

Ms Martin confirmed the Government would be providing the national broadcaster with €16m in interim funding in early December.

She said the State’s New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA) found a €21m drop in licence fee revenue this year, and another €40m loss in 2024 is expected.

The minister indicated the Government would likely give RTÉ an extra bailout worth €40m but said she and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe want to see director general Kevin Bakhurst’s cost-cutting plan first before handing over the money.

Ms Martin said the Government is expecting RTÉ to find €21m in the next year to make up for the drop off in licence fee revenue as was the advice from NewERA but she added: “It could be a case that the TV licence will recover". 

Ms Martin said she wants to see “genuine” cost-saving measures from Mr Bakhurst as his “strategic vision is also the opportunity for RTÉ to show its commitment to public service and reform”. 

She said she expected the plan to be presented to her by early November.

It comes as the RTÉ representatives will appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) again on Thursday to discuss governance and financial issues. 

When asked if she was concerned there would be further information coming as a result of Mr Collins' resignation, Ms Martin said she expected “light will be shed on that” on Thursday.

Redundancies

Sources have said Mr Bakhurst hinted at a “slimmed-down organisation” and funding for voluntary redundancies at a town hall meeting he held with staff on Wednesday.

Ms Martin told reporters she did not want to see compulsory redundancies and she did not want a “menu of options” from Mr Bakhurst but wanted his vision to be presented to Government.

When asked about the possibility of privatisation, she said this was an “operational matter” for Mr Bakhurst. But she said she did not expect there to be full privatisation of the national broadcaster.

Ms Martin said she was aware earlier this week that chief financial officer Richard Collins was resigning, having been informed he was “likely to be leaving”. 

When asked if she knew the details of what led to Mr Collins' resignation, she said she did not have any details and also had no details in relation to Mr Collin’s exit package.

Ms Martin also said she would like to see former director general Dee Forbes come before Oireachtas committees. She said the PAC was seeking legal advice about compelling people to appear before the committee.