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€40m redundancy plan to cut up to 400 RTÉ jobs

The broadcaster plans to reduce the number of workers over the next two years
The broadcaster plans to reduce the number of workers over the next two years

RTÉ plans to reduce staff numbers by up to 400 by 2028 through voluntary redundancy under a plan sent to the Government.

The cost of this scheme is estimated to be in the region of €40 million.

There is an aim to achieve 40 redundancies quickly and this will be funded by the proceeds of land already sold on the RTÉ campus.

The strategic plan says RTÉ will continue to reduce the pay of its top presenters and will keep in place a 2023 pay cap.

The plan is also seeking to further cut operating costs by around €10 million next year.

Upgraded technology, live and online content will be prioritised, in this plan.

Some services are set to be reduced and there will be more production in Cork and in other regions in the years ahead.

There will be a direct and immediate impact on services the plan says and the RTÉ 1 +1 and the RTÉ 2 +1 TV channels would cease.

More content will be produced by the independent sector and services such as RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, RTÉ Pulse and RTÉ 2XM could be scrapped.

In a statement, the broadcaster said that it will publish its strategic vision document on Tuesday afternoon following a meeting with unions and staff representative groups and a briefing of RTÉ staff by Director-General Kevin Bakhurst.

Unions hit out at 'media leaking' of strategy

The Trade Union Group (TUG) in RTÉ has called on management to release the full document to staff immediately "following [the] media leaking" of the plan.

In a statement, the TUG said: "It is not acceptable that staff should find out about the plan in this way and now be worried about the security of their jobs."

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said the "leaking" of the strategy was a "further blow to the trust of staff in an organisation where morale is at an all-time low".

It said it supported the TUG call for immediate circulation of the strategy document.

In a statement, NUJ Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley said: "I acknowledge that the Director General wants to put his proposals in context but that ship has now sailed and the only way to allay the fears of staff is immediate release of the document.

"Trade unions representatives are scheduled to meet the Director General at noon ahead of the staff briefing.

"Both events are in danger of being an empty charade. We had sought earlier sight of the document but this request was declined for reasons of confidentiality".

Govt will not allow RTÉ to cease operating - Taoiseach

The Taoiseach said he believes RTÉ provides an essential role as a public service broadcaster and Government will not allow it to cease operating.

Leo Varadkar confirmed that the new strategic plan will not go to Government on Tuesday but it has been received by Minister for Media Catherine Martin and the Government party leaders.

Mr Varadkar said the Government would have to look at two questions; the first is the €40 million needed to keep RTÉ operating.

Then there is the wider question around what RTÉ will look like in the future and how it is going to be funded

The Government would need to give these matters proper consideration and no exact funding amounts for RTÉ have been agreed yet, he said.

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Labour Party Spokesperson on Arts Marie Sherlock expressed her shock at the potential scale of workforce reductions.

"While we await to get a full picture of the RTÉ plan, reports that RTÉ is set to make such a dramatic reduction in its workforce will be deeply shocking not only to those who rely on and enjoy RTÉ, but predominantly for the workers at RTÉ who have all experienced an immensely turbulent time working for the broadcaster in recent months," she said.

"Our thoughts are with all RTÉ workers who are no doubt at a loss for words at this news.

"Throughout the past few months, we have heard from many RTÉ workers about their stretched capacity and the difficulties they are facing in terms of ensuing fully operational teams. Cutting workers does not seem like the silver bullet management seem to think it is."

Ms Sherlock said that the scale of the reductions "leaves a question mark over RTÉ's commitment not just to news and current affairs, but also to sport, entertainment, the arts, music and an Gaeilge".

Minister of State and Government Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton said there must be "give-and-take" from both the national broadcaster and the Government.

She told RTÉ's Drivetime: "I’m very mindful of people within RTÉ, hardworking people who are really dedicated to public service and that’s what we as a Government want to support, to ensure we have a national broadcaster.

"The Government has to support RTÉ but there is an ask there as well that there has to be cost-cutting measures and no matter what organisation is coming to the State for funding, we need to ensure that there is give-and-take on both sides.

"It’s not going to be easy, it’s been a very difficult process for RTÉ but we need to as a Government ensure that we continue to support it but as I say there has to be give-and-take on both sides in relation to ensuring that it is fit for purpose."