Government approves €56m bailout for RTÉ

INTERIM funding of €56 million for RTÉ has been agreed today, under certain conditions.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, updated cabinet colleagues on funding plans for RTÉ. 

She informed Government colleagues that following engagement with relevant senior cabinet colleagues over the last number of days, including with Party Leaders, a decision has been made in relation to additional funding for RTÉ.

Minister Martin said: “RTÉ’s new Strategic Vision demonstrates a renewed commitment to public service broadcasting, and addresses key areas such as governance reforms and cost efficiencies.  This is vital as RTÉ seeks to rebuild the trust and confidence of the Irish public.  I am acutely aware, however, of how difficult and challenging this is for the organisation, and particularly for its staff. That is why the DG’s consultation with staff is of paramount importance.

“Allied with measures introduced already, this Strategic Vision for RTÉ enables us to move forward with a decision to confirm the additional funding of €40m for the organisation, as recommended by NewERA. This is in addition to the €16m in interim funding recommended by the Future of Media Commission, which was also agreed.”

The initial funding of €16m, recommended by the Future of Media Commission and recently confirmed by NewERA, will be provided by way of supplementary estimate in the coming weeks. The further €40m in funding, recommended by NewERA, will be provided to RTÉ in the 2024 Revised Estimates in December.  

A structure will be put in place to provide assurance on progress in reforms linked to the release of the €40m funding, with a particular focus on the recommendations of the two Expert Advisory Committees set up by Government in July.  This will be led by the Department of Media and will include NewERA.

An initial tranche of the €40m funding will be provided in Q1 2024 after the Expert Advisory Committees reports, set up by the Government, are published. A further instalment will be made in the second half of the year providing satisfactory progress is being made by RTÉ on governance and reforms.

The Minister added: “This decision on funding is necessary to ensure in the short term the continued operations of RTÉ. However, a long-term reform of the public funding model is critical to ensure the national broadcaster is on a sustainable footing, and to ensure good quality public service broadcasting into the future. This will be addressed as a matter of priority for this Government. Until a new long-term funding model is in place, it is critically important that people pay the TV Licence fee. It is not only required by law, it underpins vibrant public service content which is of critical importance to our democracy and society.”