RTÉ going backwards on key reform targets despite €725m funding deal – Geoghegan

RTÉ’s personnel costs have increased as a proportion of its overall costs despite a commitment to significantly reduce them, Fine Gael TD James Geoghegan has said.

RTÉ’s latest Annual Report shows personnel-related operating costs rose from 49% of total operating costs in 2024 to 50% in 2025, despite its five-year strategy committing to bring that figure down to 45% by 2029.

Deputy Geoghegan, a Dublin South TD and member of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee said:

“Just two weeks ago at the Public Accounts Committee, RTÉ executives told us that reducing personnel costs as a percentage of operating costs was more important than focusing solely on their commitment to reduce the workforce by up to 400. We now know that on their preferred measure, they are going backwards too.

“What makes this even more difficult to understand is that RTÉ has changed the wording of its annual performance measure. In 2024, it simply measured ‘PROCs as % of Total Operating Costs’ and declared the commitment achieved.

“In 2025, that has changed to personnel costs being ‘at 50% or less of total operating costs’. RTÉ again declares the commitment achieved, despite the figure rising from 49% to 50% and its strategic target being 45%.

“RTÉ needs to explain how it can declare success when the figure is moving in the wrong direction.”

Deputy Geoghegan said RTÉ’s staffing figures also raise questions about the pace of reform.

“RTÉ committed to reducing its workforce by up to 400, yet its own Annual Report shows average total employee numbers actually increased by 32 in 2025, from 1,962 to 1,994.

“More than 300 people applied for RTÉ’s Voluntary Exit Programme, but only 67 ultimately exited through it, at a cost of €8.5 million.

“RTÉ was given three years of funding certainty worth €725 million to give it the ability to plan and reform. Financial stability at RTÉ is welcome, but it has to be accompanied by structural reform.

“After the first year of this strategy, personnel costs have increased as a proportion of operating costs, average employee numbers have increased and just 67 people have left through the voluntary scheme.

“Before RTÉ comes back looking for another major funding package, taxpayers and licence fee-holders are entitled to see much clearer evidence that the reforms promised alongside the existing deal are actually being delivered.”