RTÉ spends over €100k in two years on maintaining its grounds around the country

A spokesman at RTÉ said, as well as its Dublin campus,  it operated other sites around the country, including in Cork, Limerick, and Connemara, as well as its large campus in Donnybrook in Dublin. File photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

RTÉ has spent more than €100,000 on the upkeep of grounds over the past two years including the removal of storm-damaged trees, patching up broken pavements, and cutting grass.

The €108,000 bill covered costs for 2023 and 2024 with €40,000 spent last year, much of it on dealing with damaged trees. Six separate bills were listed for the removal of trees damaged during severe weather with costs totaling just over €16,000.

Two chestnut trees behind the Fair City set also caused grief with €3,239 spent, though the records from RTÉ do not make clear if they could be saved.

Other costs last year included €2,981 for the rental of a road sweeper over the course of a month and €214 in parts for a Billy Goat vacuum that sweeps up leaves and debris.

There was a bill of €654 for call out and repairs because a “mower won’t go into gear” while €5,290 was spent on tree removal, pruning, and treatment of stumps. Around €1,200 was paid for gardening chemicals and equipment while €585 was spent on the fitting of a new “cutting deck”.

The bill for 2023 was slightly higher at around €48,000 which included €4,000 for equipment and machinery. A leaf grabber cost €836, a bag hoop €150, and flowers and plants cost just over €900.

RTÉ said costs of around €19,000 had been incurred that year in maintenance of pathways across their Dublin campus. Other bills included €563 for salt and grit for icy weather and €1,511 for “seasonal plants and shrubs.” 

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

The broadcaster said costs of around €20,000 were also incurred at their other offices around the country during 2023 and 2024. This included €864 for the cutting up and removal of fallen trees and around €850 for wastewater testing.

There was a bill of €3,023 for a “bio cycle treatment plan” at Raidió na Gaeltachta and €3,089 paid for “feather flags”. A spokesman at RTÉ said it operated other sites around the country, including in Cork, Limerick, and Connemara, as well as its large campus in Donnybrook in Dublin.

He said: “The spend…relates to a wide range of compliance-related works and maintenance which are necessary to ensure RTÉ fulfils its duties as an employer to provide a safe place of work for staff and visitors to our sites."