An Oireachtas committee has heard that RTÉ is to outsource production of the Lotto programme.
Director-General Kevin Bakhurst was questioned about what services the broadcaster aimed to source from the commercial sector.
He said: "Radio, sport, news and current affairs will remain in-house"
"We've already talked about Fair City and The Late Late publicly, and we're doing feasibility on those."
Mr Bakhurst said that Fair City will have to be made "off-site" as RTÉ’s presence on the Donnybrook campus in Dublin reduces, adding that the organisation was exploring whether it would continue as a "fully independent" or "hybrid" production.
"At least seven or eight high-quality providers" are interested in producing the soap, he said, adding that he expects formal expressions of interest to be sought next summer.
Asked if other programmes were being assessed, he said: "There are a few smaller things, yes.
"The Lotto will be going out, because that costs us a lot of money to do, and there’s a better way to do it, and it also enables us to let a few more people leave who we couldn’t leave this year."
Mr Bakhurst also said it was working with an independent production company to create religious services programming, replacing the studio service on Sunday.
RTÉ’s Head of Video Steve Carson indicated the organisation was looking at whether the FAI Cup competition "could be supplied by an independent producer from next year", but said the "balance and weight" of sports coverage will remain in-house.
Asked if Traitors Ireland was a "profitable experience", Mr Bakhurst said it "cost a lot of money" but "probably about washed its face" as the committee heard it was also important for developing audiences.
Mr Bakhurst told the committee that the broadcaster had received "strong public endorsement" of its decision not to broadcast or participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s inclusion.
"This is the demonstration of values in action and our audience can see it."
He said there were "quite robust discussions about" the decision, adding the leadership team was "100% united" and that it had the "full backing" of the board.
RTÉ headcount down by around 95 this year
RTÉ reduced its headcount by about 95 this year, through 65 voluntary exits and around 30 resignations and retirements.
The broadcaster has set a target to reduce its headcount by 400 over five years.
Mr Bakhurst said there had been 308 applications for voluntary redundancy and 107 offers had been made.
He said that 65 of the offers had been accepted and three were outstanding, leaving an acceptance rate of more than 60%.
In addition, RTÉ has suppressed 30 roles through resignations and retirements.
Mr Bakhurst said the organisation remains hopeful of reaching 100 exits by the end of the year.
"The savings from those voluntary exits so far will be €6.2 million per annum. So over a five-year strategy, that's around €30 million.
"Obviously, the savings from the suppressions will be, so far, €2.4 million per annum. So obviously that's upwards of €10 million over the five-year strategy."
"The point is not about hollowing out the organisation. It is about actually preserving a strong public service media organisation that is financially sustainable into the future," Mr Bakhurst told the committee.
He said role suppressions through retirements and resignations carry "zero cost" compared to the €100,000 price tag on managing a single voluntary exit package.
RTÉ will apply later next year for a second exit scheme.
Mr Bakhurst said that he hopes to discuss "more flexibility" in the terms of future exit schemes with the relevant government department as the existing thresholds for savings prevented RTÉ from "letting 30-40 people go".
"Take an example. You had a very senior person who wants to go, and you can move someone a little bit more junior across to do that role, and you suppress the junior person's role. We're not allowed to do that.
"We had to achieve 100% salary saving on the senior person's salary. Now if we could slightly adjust the scheme so that the saving was 75%, or whatever, it would still deliver significant savings over five years."
Under questioning from committee members, Mr Bakhurst said that 59 of the 308 applications for the voluntary exit scheme came from the news and current affairs division.
He said ten offers had been made and two had been accepted.
"We were unable to let many people go from news and current affairs this year because it is a core part of a very important part of our remit. We take it extremely seriously.
"We will have to look at news in the years to come, because you know no-one is immune from downsizing in RTÉ, but news and current affairs will remain in-house - so it's more of a challenge in that area."
Mr Bakhurst said the broadcaster has reversed the trend of a deficit financial position through "highly effective cost management and proper financial planning".
He added that RTÉ is on a "firm financial footing", having reported a surplus of €5.3 million for 2024 - compared to a deficit of €10.3 million in 2023.
"We will deliver a larger surplus in 2025. We're aiming to deliver a third surplus in 2026."
Mr Bakhurst said that RTE was not seeking any additional funding on top of the €725m package agreed last year in the period out to 2027.
Elsewhere, Mr Bakhurst acknowledged that morale across the organisation was "patchy" amid the cuts.
"There are areas that are damning. We are open. We published it [culture survey results] warts and all."
He said that there had been a "lot of damage" to some areas and it takes time to rebuild trust.
Deputy Director-General Adrian Lynch said the aim was to have 25% of staff permanently decentralised outside Dublin by the end of the five-year strategy.
The committee heard that RTÉ is also aiming to deliver new news and audio apps next year, the latter of which is expected in the second half of next year and will introduce rewinding capability.
A new human resources system will also be installed in 2026.
Mr Bakhurst, who previously held senior positions at the BBC, told the TDs and senators that he had not applied for the top job at the British broadcaster after Tim Davie announced his resignation as director-general last month.
"I haven’t applied and I’m very happy doing this job, that’s all I can say."
Changing Toy Show start time 'like getting rid of the Angelus'
Mr Bakhurst said changing the start time of the Late Late Toy Show would be "almost like getting rid of the Angelus".
He was responding to Fine Gael TD Brian Brennan who said the show "turns into a children's stamina Olympics".
"No one in the Brennan household got a good medal," added Mr Brennan.
He said "every single constituent" in Wexford-Wicklow has asked him about the timing of the show, that aired at 9.35pm this year.
Mr Brennan said he "cannot overemphasise" the success of the show.
"It is an institution now in Ireland," he said. "We have to give credit when credit is due."
Additional reporting Róisín Cullen & Joe Mag Raollaigh
