Minister for Media Catherine Martin has said she is withholding additional funding of €40 million from national broadcaster RTÉ until it produces its strategic vision for reform.
It comes after interim funding of just €16 million had been allocated to RTÉ in Budget 2024.
RTÉ was plunged into crisis in June when the broadcaster revealed it had not correctly declared fees to its then-highest-paid earner Ryan Tubridy.
The scandal widened as a series of other financial and governance issues emerged.
Earlier this year, prior to the emergence of controversies, RTÉ submitted a request for €34.5 million in additional interim funding for next year.
Since then, its revenues have taken a further major hit, with the broadcaster currently projecting a loss of €21 million by year end due to a fall in TV licence payments in the wake of the controversies.
That €21 million in revenue gap was on top of a deficit of €7 million RTÉ had already budgeted for in 2023.
Ms Martin told a post-Budget press conference that the State’s financial advice body NewERA had recommended €16 million in funding for RTÉ, in line with the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission.
She said it had also recommended an additional 40 million euro in relation to the shortfall of TV licences, but that is currently being withheld.
On withholding the €40 million, Ms Martin said: “That’s the piece where we need the strategic vision. So, we’re not committing to doing that until we see the reform plan.”
Ms Martin said she believes RTÉ’s director-general Kevin Bakhurst will produce a reform plan for the crisis-hit broadcaster in late October or early November.
She added: “The funding is still not going to be allocated in any shape or form until we see that strategic vision.”
Elsewhere, the broadcaster confirmed its chief financial officer Richard Collins has resigned.
Mr Bakhurst delivered the update to staff on Wednesday.
“Richard Collins has tendered his resignation as CFO of RTÉ. Richard will work on a handover and RTÉ is in the process of identifying a replacement CFO,” RTÉ said in a statement.
“Richard will assist in any ongoing processes to the extent that this may be required.
“We wish to thank Richard for his hard work and contribution to RTÉ over the past three years and to wish him every success in the future.”
Mr Collins was one of the RTÉ executives who appeared before Oireachtas committees to answer questions about the controversy engulfing the broadcaster.
In one committee appearance, Mr Collins said he was not sure what exactly he was paid, before stating that it was “in and around” €200,000.
Mr Bakhurst had said in July that Mr Collins would be “working with us now for another couple of weeks” to help RTÉ provide documents to committees.
