RTÉ to downsize and increase efficiency through 250 voluntary redundancies

Music
01 Sep 17

As part of the organisational review announced in March, RTÉ director-general Dee Forbes has shared further information on the “painful choices” that will be made to ensure an “exciting future” for the company.

Ms. Forbes and the RTÉ Executive spoke with members of staff yesterday (Aug 31) about the Voluntary Exit Programme and early-retirement scheme, which will open next week, and which will see RTÉ staff reduced by 250 employees.

Commenting on these changes, Ms. Forbes told staff,

“Sitting still is not an option in what is a radically changing market, so today marks the start of a period of significant change and transformation at RTÉ and we will be a better organisation for it.”

“Our financial situation requires us to reduce costs and employee numbers. We need to become a smaller, more efficient organisation. That will mean that we will lose some colleagues. It will also affect the scope of what we are able to do. Critically, we must ensure that we are investing in the programmes, reporting and content valued by our audiences.”

According to its 2016 Annual Report, RTÉ employed 1984 people, with 278 working in either a casual or part-time position.

Full details of the Voluntary Exit Programme and the early-retirement scheme will be shared with staff next week.