6 November 2019
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
No mention of selling Cork studio (which had been rumoured) in today’s announcement, but elsewhere in Munster Limerick studio is to close
A reduction in staff numbers of 200, the closure of the current Limerick studio and the digital radio network, and the sale of the RTÉ Guide are among the plans announced by RTÉ to address its financial crisis.
In a statement released tonight, the broadcaster said it needs to reduce projected costs by €60 million over the three years 2020-2023.
It said it would reduce the fees paid to top contracted on-air presenters by 15% and that the executive board would take a 10% cut in pay.
It also said it would consult with staff and unions on a number of initiatives including a pay freeze and tiered pay reductions.
The broadcaster said it needed to achieve a staff headcount reduction of around 200 in 2020.
It said a midwest news service will continue.
File photo: RTÉ’s Director General, Dee Forbes
RTÉ’s Director General, Dee Forbes said: “The challenges in front of us are real. But RTÉ does have a plan, which we are confident can address many of the challenges we face and bring Ireland’s national public broadcaster to stability.”
She also said the broadcaster remains in discussions with Government and is doing all it can to return RTÉ to a stable financial position, but cannot fulfill its remit without immediate reform of the TV licence system.
RTÉ had planned to brief staff on its plans next week but the release of the information was brought forward following a media leak.
