State bodies would 'give their right arm' for RTÉ's €725m funding package, says Harris

Media Minister Catherine Martin is bringing a memo to Cabinet this morning on the future funding of public service media in Ireland. Picture: Nick Ansell/PA Wire

RTÉ is to receive a multi-year funding package that other Sate bodies would “give their right arm for”, the Taoiseach has said.

Simon Harris has said that it is “very important” that in return for a €725m funding package the national broadcaster "keeps its word” in relation to reform.

Details of the new funding model and of additional public funding to be allocated for the State broadcaster, are due to be signed off by the Government.

Media Minister Catherine Martin is bringing a memo to Cabinet this morning on the future funding of public service media in Ireland. 

The three-year State funding package for RTÉ will see €225m allocated next year; €240m in 2026; and €260m in 2027.

Allocation of this additional funding will be contingent upon reforms RTÉ has pledged to introduce in the wake of revelations which came to light last year of secret barter accounts and unpublished spending at the broadcaster.

Simon Harris has said that it is 'very important' that in return for a €725m funding package the national broadcaster 'keeps its word' in relation to reform. Picture: PA

Speaking on his way into Cabinet, Mr Harris said: “The decisions the Government will make today, and of course Minister Martin will speak to them later, do make two very significant changes: one, there is a significant uplift in the level of public funding and two, there is a multi-annual certainty that I can tell you most State agencies, public service organisations would give their right arm for.” 

The new Government plans will also see the TV licence fee retained and supplemented by additional funding to be agreed on a multi-annual basis.

Mr Harris said this will allow RTÉ to plan on a multi-annual basis.

He added: “Public service broadcasting matters, it matters that we fund it properly and it matters all the more in an era of misinformation and disinformation.” 

He said the past year had represented a “saga” at RTÉ which had been a time of “great worry for staff”.