One employee, speaking with the Irish Times and asking not to be named, said: “We were told very coldly at half past five by a team of men in suits that the department was closing down in three weeks’ time.

“Anyone who is on contract was told their job was gone. Staff employees would be redeployed within the company. Everyone was devastated and a lot of people were in tears.”

An estimated 15 people - presenters, researchers, programme assistants and puppeteers - are set to have their contracts terminated in the weeks before Christmas. Eleven staff will be redeployed and eight will remain to carry out residual functions, such as commissioning, promotion and post-production.

A statement from RTÉ said: "Recognising the challenging financial environment, and so as to achieve stronger efficiencies and value for money, RTÉ is to make changes to how it produces young people’s programmes.

"After an examination of all output, a decision has been made to commission all young people’s programmes from the independent sector, enabling RTÉ to meet its statutory committed spend in the sector and reducing operating costs internally.

"RTÉ is not reducing its commitment to younger peoples programmes, nor it's spend."