RTÉ to seek another round of state funding after three-year €725m package ends

RTÉ IS EXPECTED to tell the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday that it wants another round of multiannual funding commitment next year.

RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst will tell the Committee that RTÉ has reversed the trend of reporting deficits and strengthened its financial position thanks to tighter cost controls and a new commercial strategy underpinned by the current multiannual funding.

“This certainty has enabled proper planning and contracting and we would appeal very strongly that a similar commitment is made in 2027 when this next comes up for review,” he will say in opening statements.

Bakhurst will also say the current package was a “critical step” in addressing funding volatility for public service media in Ireland.

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As well as RTÉ having strengthened its financial position, Bakhurst is expected to tell PAC that almost 80% of the Expert Advisory Committee recommendations advising the organisation on reform have now been carried out, and the review of employee classifications is also almost complete.

He will say the organisation’s new policy of ‘Employment First’ has extended to on-air presenters and resulted in more than 30 presenters transitioning to employment, refined approval protocols, and aligned all contractor decisions with employment legislation and best practice.

He will also say “parallel progress” has been made in concluding PRSI classification matters with the Department of Social Protection.

Bakhurst is expected to say “more work” will be done to ensure the organisation’s new remuneration policy offers clear pathways for progression.

Bakhurst will say: “Historical employment and contracting arrangements within RTÉ evolved over many decades and, in some cases, lacked the consistency and clarity that would be expected today.”

He will also tell the Committee that RTÉ has made gains in restoring public trust after hitting record lows in 2023.

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