Written answers

Thursday, 28 November 2019

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

RTÉ Expenditure

Photo of Jack ChambersJack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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60. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to address the ongoing funding crisis at RTÉ; if he has met a person (details supplied) to discuss the plans of RTÉ since publication of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49383/19]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department is in ongoing contact with senior management in RTÉ regarding their financial position and their proposals for reform, a number of which will require my consent as Minister and will be submitted to me in due course for consideration. The detail of these matters is being considered by my officials, in Conjunction with NEWERA officials and officials from DPER. I have met with the chair and the director general in recent months and expect to do so again in the coming period.

An additional €10m in public funding has been allocated to RTÉ over the past two budgets. This includes an additional €8.6m made available in Budget 2019 through a combination of an increase in exchequer funding for Public Service Broadcasting, which replaced TG4's TV Licence funding, and an increase in the amount paid by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for free TV Licences. This builds on the increase in funding for Public Service Broadcasting in 2018, funded through a €1.64m increase in the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection contribution for free TV licences.

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