RTÉ Cork staff fearful for future after talks on new studio break down

Negotiations between Cork City Council and RTÉ around the possibility of RTÉ Cork operating from the Counting House hit the rocks after several months, with one source saying: 'That’s not going to happen now.' Picture: Larry Cummins

More than a year after RTÉ Cork employees were promised new studios and offices, co-location talks with Cork City Council have broken down, leaving staff fearful a central plank of the broadcaster's planned decentralisation has fallen through.

RTÉ had been in discussions with City Hall about the possibility of leasing the upstairs portion of the Counting House complex on South Main Street.

Earlier this year, Cork City Council announced it had purchased the four-storey, 7,300sq m premises for €35m plus Vat from BAM contractors, with a view to the complex becoming the new home for Cork City Library.

Negotiations between the council and RTÉ around the possibility of RTÉ Cork operating from the Counting House hit the rocks after several months, with one source saying: “That’s not going to happen now.”

In May 2025, RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst said RTÉ Cork was determined to move from its antiquated Fr Mathew Street home to a new, central location by 2027, with an increase to its current headcount of about 50 staff.

Addressing a gathering of independent radio and television producers in the Imperial Hotel, Mr Bakhurst said the State broadcaster was committed to producing more programmes from Cork.

Since that time, RTÉ has looked at several city centre premises, among them One Albert Quay, and the Half Moon Street offices that were once home to Apple.

RTÉ's five-year strategy included a commitment to investing in a new, expanded production centre in Cork.

However, sources within RTÉ have now questioned whether the broadcaster has the finances to move from Fr Mathew Street, and there is growing frustration that management has not met past commitments to increase its footprint outside of Dublin.

It has been noted by Cork staff that the majority of recent RTÉ senior staff positions advertised have all been Dublin-based, raising questions about the sincerity of the broadcaster’s commitment to decentralisation.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central, said RTÉ Cork staff deserved to be updated on their future.

“The vision outlined by Kevin Bakhurst in the past has emphasised strongly that Cork is going to be central to the broadcaster’s future,” he said.

“If that’s going to be the case, we need modern, up-to-date facilities to ensure that staff are supported in continuing to provide the excellent output that they do, in current affairs, in programming, in so many aspects."

Fianna Fáil’s Séamus McGrath said after more than two years of RTÉ management signalling an intention to move from Fr Mathew Street, clarity was urgently needed.

“It’s very important that we maintain a strong presence from RTÉ here in the city,” he said.

Asked for comment, RTÉ said it “continues to consider options in Cork and when there is a material update, this will be shared with RTÉ staff in the first instance, before wider communication”.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said it was focused on progressing plans for a “world-class library and cultural destination at the Counting House” and would not be commenting on discussions “that may or may not be taking place”.