RTÉ funding row: Government hopes TV licence reform can close €20m gap

RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst speaking to the media at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, following a meeting with the minister Patrick O'Donovan. Picture date: Thursday October 8, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Cate McCurry/PA.

The Government is hopeful that reforms to the TV licence could help bridge the €20m cut in RTÉ’s funding, as “delicate” discussions between the broadcaster and the media minister are set to continue.

RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst met media minister Patrick O’Donovan yesterday, less than 24 hours after senior RTÉ executives were taken by surprise by the Budget decision to reduce the broadcaster’s expected 2027 funding from €260m to €240m.

The cut was announced on Wednesday. Mr O’Donovan said it was due to dissatisfaction with the broadcaster’s perceived lack of progress in reducing staff numbers.

Speaking after yesterday’s meeting, Mr Bakhurst said the talks were “constructive” and that RTÉ would work with Mr O’Donovan’s officials to reach a solution.

“It was very positive, which is very welcome from our part. I’m really not going to answer questions because it’s delicate enough,” Mr Bakhurst said.

“We want this process to be properly carried out, but the relationship is good, and it was a very open and constructive meeting.” 

Asked whether RTÉ would receive the funding, Mr Bakhurst said: “I don’t know. We’ll see.” 

TV licence reform could bridge shortfall 

A senior Government source said a resolution to the dispute could come through reforms to the enforcement and collection of the TV licence fee.

“The option would be there to close the funding gap through licence fee reform,” the source said, pointing out that the Government is currently making up the shortfall in licence fee revenue.

An Post collected 947,924 TV licences in 2022, but that figure had fallen to 768,657 by 2025.

A spokesperson for the Department of Culture said Mr O’Donovan had listened to RTÉ on the funding issue and that engagement would continue over the coming weeks.

RTÉ and the department have been summoned to appear before the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee to provide clarity on the broadcaster’s funding.

Questions over compulsory redundancies 

Questions have also been raised about the prospect of compulsory redundancies at RTÉ, although enterprise minister Peter Burke said the Government “does not expect” this to happen.

Meanwhile, RTÉ staff in Cork are said to be “in a state of shock” and fear the €20m funding cut could jeopardise plans to move from the broadcaster’s “crumbling” premises on Fr Mathew Street to a new facility at One Albert Quay.

Trevor Keegan, chair of the National Union of Journalists sub-branch at RTÉ, said staff had “serious concerns” that the move may now be in jeopardy.