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LAST UPDATE | 24 Jul 2024
MEDIA MINISTER CATHERINE Martin has denied giving RTÉ a blank cheque under new plans to fund the national broadcaster.
RTÉ is to receive €725 million in government funding over the next three years.
The station is to receive €225 million next year from TV licence fee revenue and direct Exchequer funding combined.
In 2026, the funding will rise to €240 million, rising to €260 million in 2027.
Government also agreed to the provision of increased funding for the Broadcasting and Media Funds, with a further €4 million in Exchequer support delivering an increased allocation of €22.2 million for the wider sector in 2025.
Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Martin said the allocation is less than RTÉ had requested, stating that the station was seeking an additional €30 million for next year.
The TV licence will continue to collected by An Post, who will receive an additional €6 million to improve the mechanism and collection rates.
This will include investment in a new database and data management system.
The minister said today that households could hit with fixed penalty notices if they don’t pay their TV licences within a “set period”.
A technical group will also examine how people consume media, such as viewing media on laptops, and whether that should fall into the TV licence fee remit. Martin said it is time to “move with the times”.
The minister said she is confident the the payment of the TV licence fee is on the rise, stating it has risen 18% on last year.
However, when questioned by The Journal if the government will step in if it falls again in the future, she said it is “something that we would definitely consider”, stating that the government has now given a guarantee to fund the strategy for the next number of years.
She said there is a tendency to focus on non-compliance, while the vast majority of people pay the TV licence.
Martin said she sees the TV licence system strengthening, once reforms are implemented. However, she could not give a timeline as to how soon the licence fee database will be overhauled.
Martin said certainty of funding, and the ability to plan on a multi-annual basis for delivery of agreed strategies is key, stating that the increased funding will meet the needs of RTÉ’s new strategy.
The funding is contingent on a number of reforms promised by the broadcaster, which includes 400 redundancies.
The first 40 redundancies are being paid for from the sale of land on the Montrose site in 2017, said the minister, with the remaining 360 voluntary redundancies being paid for from RTÉ funding.
Questions were posed as to what percentage of the funding for next year will go on redundancy payments, however, the minister said she could not release that information until the Department of Public Expenditure confirms the figures.
Discussions were ongoing on redundancy payments that will need to be paid over the next five years, said the minister.
When asked if she was in favour of a cap on redundancy payments, she said it was something being examined.
“I think we want to be very careful how we manage public funds and taxpayers’ money,” she said, adding it was something being considered.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that a new funding plan for RTÉ marks a “significant milestone”.
“The decisions the Government will make today… do make two very significant changes. One – there is a significant uplift in the level of public funding, and secondly there’s multiannual certainty,” he said.
“I felt that we couldn’t ask the taxpayer to put their hand in their pocket and pay any more in terms of an increased licence fee. I don’t think that would have been palatable for people.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the “retention and strengthening” of the licence fee collection system would provide RTÉ with an important independent revenue stream.
“It is important in terms of the independence of media (rather than) total dependency on Government and also in terms of the broader issues around democracy and freedom of the media.”
With reporting by Christina Finn
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He couldn’t ask the taxpayer to put their hand in their pocket? Where does he think this money is coming from?
@John John: of course! I don’t know why I didn’t think of the money tree!
@John K: I’m not so sure about a money tree, but they definitely have an Ahole tree in the Dail cos there’s no shortage of them.
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: This sort of stuff is why USC is still knocking around…… Scandalous!!!!!
@John K: keep voting them in lads…. tremendous value for your tax dollar. Still no obligation on D to tell her story.
@John John: But the secret is out now, as we know it’s in Kildare street!
@John K: the taxpayers opinion is obsolete coolock proved that 3 solid months of protest no engagement from government then the wrong crowd gets involved and causes havoc. Then everyone’s a racist people who live in these areas who have children concerned about undocumented males arriving have every right to question it at least. Shame on that shambles of a government we have that ignores people’s concerns.
Am I understanding this correctly? We still pay the licence fee to RTE and they get also a load of cash from the exchequer? They are supposed to be reforming their spending structures so surely lower the licence fee or cut government subsidy entirely? I must be missing something.
@Peter Cummins: ah, in fairness, they’re claiming advertising revenue is way back since turbity/Dee Forbes scandal(s) so they need a ‘leg up’. Seriously, you wouldn’t see the likes in a sitcom
@Peter Cummins: They also get to keep their private Ad revenue stream i assume? it reminds me of 2008 with the banks. Taxpayers are on the hook and not one person held accountable for the mess.
@Peter Cummins: And around 150 million from advertising!!
That 725 million euros could be put to better use like building more houses.
@john dowdall: totally agree scrap Rte and move on
@john dowdall:
The housing department returned €380M to revenue in unspent money over the last 4 years.. They obviously have too much money.
@Paul: they wont do that Paul thats their ministry of propaganda
@Paul: sell off RTE And all it’s land and build houses, what at an absolute scandal. And they are looking to send fixed penalties notice as well.
So instead of reducing budgets and cutting cloth to measure, they now get, what appears to me, a huge cash injection. License revenue, exchequer revenue and advertising revenue. Per capita, Is there any worldwide broadcaster in receipt of this much cash?
@ecrowley ecrowley: Remember, the price of flip flops has gone up.
OK so let’s recap. The top management we’re using the place like thier own personal slush fund and retirement plan. When the game was up they all paid each other multiple 6 figure sums to run away and hide. But it’s all OK now says the government, ” we’ve decided not to change anything and double the public money we give RTE”
F××King unbelievable
@Shimo F: Banana rep live and well
@Shimo F: that about sums it up. They used the application of Time to mellow things. No real fix.
@Shimo F: Well to be fair the Irish people gave them a massive boost to do whatever suits them with the results of the local elections. Don’t be complaining the Irish electoriate voted for this.
Brilliant news for everyone who voted for FF and FG, glad they appreicate these priorities.
How can ITV , Channel 4, 5 etc manage perfectly well on advertising income alone, and RTE can’t, with advertising AND licence AND government money? It’s a simple question. It is incompetence of management. Take RTE out of commercial advertising, or be funded entirely by advertising. It isn’t fair.
Basically doubling the licence fee as its comming from tax payers
Like throwing Apples into an Orchard.
@Martin Finnerty: plenty bad apples in that orchard.
Looking at the whole fiasco in the ’round’ turbidity and Dee Forbes did RTE a huge service….. Everything that Montrose dreamed about…..we’ll, they got it in spades. The status quo & largesse has been green lighted into the future
Give The People a Break…Enough IS Enough!!! Subscription Only!!!
RTE is a comprised organization.
As far as I’m concerned my license is already paid so from the 3/4 billion.
They can sing for it.
Governments have fallen over less
@Fergus O’Donnell: Lol you must be joking. Come election time the came gombeens will be voted in. Irish love to complain but the powers that be know it rarely goes any further.
When does Dee Forbes’ sick cert expire?
@Stephen Kelly: she’ll expire before her sick cert does as far as I can see.
Make it pay per view
RTE must have presented one hell of a business plan for such funding to even be considered.
@Athena: Programmes Won’t Improve…More of the same old Repeat s Ad Nauseum! Geesh, Time to Give these Out of Touch TDs a Lesson Next Election. Enough Really IS Enough!!!
@Athena: All day reruns of home and away, neighbours and maybe we’ll throw in an auld Amercian drama or sitcom. RTE are due a morning rerun of Dallas.
An absolute disgrace of the highest order. Close to three quarters of a BILLION over three years. In fact, this is unacceptable. All the posturing, bleating at PAC meetings, hours of media talk time anout ‘reform’ and this is the pathetic answer? Forbes the weasel rides off into the sunset with all entitlements intact but is held 0% accountable? No, just no. Action required here from the taxpayer and licence fee payer. Remember that RTE will also have advertising revenue streams too. Another spineless decision by the government to ‘misappropriate’ public funds…again!
Yet another train wreck interview by Mary looper lol
@John D Doe: prior to the local/European elections in June I was actually ‘leaning’ towards SF, jeez, they’ve really self imploded in spectacular fashion.
That’s a lot of flip-flops…
@Regular John: they should last a bit longer this time
To be a manager in the public service. What a gig of a job. You don’t have to know anything about your job sure your mate, uncle or folks got you in the door, off you go and car crash the place, spend what you like, have no recollection of anything or any conversation with anyone whatsoever. Sure don’t worry we’ll be bailed out by the lads. Carry on as normal!
@Dan The Man: Heard the education correspondent and union head honcho being interviewed on the 1 pm news by her colleague. Arrogance at its best. When I heard “What the public wants” had to switch off.
Boucher Hayes,another lapdog of ffg
@Jb Walshe: well considering SF only launched their policy document yesterday you would think Mary Lou would have remembered the details on how they were planning on implementing their policy and what countries they would add to the safe list.
@The next small thing: I’m the opposition was her excuse for appalling lack of detail. Then plays to the anti RTE crowd…another victim of pro govt forces. Following on from an equally disastrous sf appearance on Virgin tv last night ( but at least the sf td was civil in the face of a really irritating govt td who kept interrupting him. Virgin really need to train their interviewers. The shows potential is routinely lost because of poor chairing)
That’s a lot of bribery money.
Till all the ex staff, answer questions, and return payments,received.
No more public money should be invested into RTE. Then it should be direct funding.
RTÉ, public media mouthpiece of government…..And we pay directly and indirectly for government propaganda via RTÉ!
Hahahahahaha!
Why are they giving this funding and where is all this money coming from. What changes have been made and what is yet to come out!!
Dee Forbes gone outright favourite for ‘hide n’ seek’ champion 2025.
D’Arcy is robbing a living
@Brian Pocock: he really is a terrible presenter
€225 million of funding over the next twelve months? About as effective as giving a deviant with one hundred plus convictions a suspended sentence. All delightfully brought to you by what used to be nicknamed the law and order party.
Ok so that’s all sorted then, nothing else to see here. How many execs still off sick and being paid. Who is the one they admitted will likely have a payoff north of 400k ? Whats the new bosses t&c’s if he decides to walk in a year or two.
you couldnt make it up
What happened between Fionnan Sheehan and Minister Martin at her press conference… does anyone know ?
@John Manahan: did she do a “Mary Lou”
@John Manahan: I watched it over again, very precious, she didn’t like his persistent questioning. It’s like she plays a certain card every time to deflect from her incompetence, like at the start of the expose’s when she disappeared & got an interview immediately on RTE where she was allowed to play the fact that she was a woman, no questions on her inaction for 3 months. She needs to resign, the Greens are not fit for office or any Ministry.
I’m probably adding this wrong,but for the next few years all the hundreds of millions,does that come too a billion,and we have the license fee, bet they will need bailing out aswell,Is it any wonder over the years that we’re the butt of all jokes,How can all our money be given to foreign investments,landlords,
NGOs,so much money going to Africa with Charity,and their coming in here in their 100s, EU r having to get money aswell.sit down for 15 mins go back to the start of Covid and see where our tax is going,coz people r paying tax after working,then every single thing u buy is taxed aswell,We need to stop this now,our Country is broken beyond repair,stop all Politicians top civil servants earning more,than the President of the US,Trump get in please,stop needless wars.Quieten the EU
What about all the revenue from advertising where dose that go it must be a very substantial amount
@Tony Martin: dee forbes lump sum and pension among other things
Quite typically in Ireland, mismanagement and gross incompetence are financially rewarded and at the taxpayer’s expense. RTE – also known as the ‘ repeats’ national broadcaster – has indeed been offered a blank cheque!!
That should cover D4orbes sick pay for a few years!!
Ok, who is next? VRT
When you rob in in the government give you more money fffc and green give you more money
TDs, YOU know this IS Wrong….Good luck getting back IN next election.
@Mick Hanna: spot on. I will ALWAYS exercise my vote however I have 3 therefore I’ve lost faith in the democracy of or electoral system… no more. I’m typing as a former devoted FG’r- my poor, beautiful Grandparents would turn in their graves.
Like the rest of them talking out of side of her gob
So accountability has gone out the window let’s just fork out 750 million but cut payments for people going north for apps they can’t get here voting green fg ff could be a big mistake
Virgin media platforms and newstalk walk all over rte with content rte we’re looking for extra 30million and she said no Catherine Martin hasn’t a clue re negotiating there laughing at her and us they probably thought she give them 100 million less not her money the greens have cost this country dearly with the support of the other two parties who have sold their souls to stay in power and on the horizon bertie ahern is considering a run for presidency even the biggest crook of them all charlie big fella thanks haughty warned us about him
Sure, they can come and inspect my property…
I will answer the door in the nude.
There goes your usc and your tax cut they said you’re getting in the budget. Seriously when will the gobeens who vote for these schisters ever learn.
Yippee, let’ get the flip-flop order in, and get back to normal. This should buy Backhurst a 2 year buffer, and bring him up to his early retirement on a huge bonus, next time the poo hits the fan…
Like a lad arguing with the ref over a straight red ….oh it’s unrepairable…
The Gov. has bogged it and like a horse design committee, has come up with a 2 hump camel, which is sure to be lame!
The licence is fixed on householders ,who have to be identified, and An Post is to get e6million to check. Renter churn will make this inexeact, as will group residences. So, it will never achieve full collection.Pensioners have a free licence ,as do other SW classes, and the state pays this element.
Is this on top of, or included in the e725 mill?
And that is without any resistance by householders akin to the water tax revolt. These citizens are the cohort struggling with higher mortgages, extortionate rents and insurances, utilities/family costs inflation.
Step back now, and apply a low universal PSO levy on all media prepay & subscription delivery modes.
Have to move with the times and look at how people are viewing content…I sincerely doubt too many if any people are using their laptop to stream the rte player
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