RTÉ Spent €8.5 Million on Redundancy Packages for 67 Staff in 2025 as Annual Report Published
RTÉ spent €8.5 million on exit packages for 67 staff members who departed under its Voluntary Exit Programme in 2025, averaging approximately €127,000 per person, according to the broadcaster's annual report published on 22 July 2026 — a document that also revealed that nine of the organisation's top ten earners were senior managers and that the broadcaster recorded a net surplus of €22.5 million for the year.
Background
RTÉ has been in a state of significant institutional upheaval since the payments scandal of 2023, which revealed that the broadcaster had made undisclosed payments to presenter Ryan Tubridy and had engaged in a range of financial practices that fell short of the standards expected of a publicly funded organisation. The scandal prompted a comprehensive review of RTÉ's governance, finances, and culture, and led to the departure of the Director General and several senior executives.
In the aftermath of the scandal, RTÉ developed a five-year "New Direction" strategy aimed at restructuring the organisation, reducing costs, and rebuilding public trust. A central element of that strategy is a significant reduction in headcount, with the broadcaster aiming to reduce its workforce by up to 400 people between 2025 and 2030 through a combination of voluntary exits and role suppressions. The Voluntary Exit Programme (VEP) launched in 2025 was the first major implementation of that strategy.
The publication of the 2025 Annual Report on 22 July 2026 provides the first comprehensive picture of RTÉ's financial performance and restructuring progress under the new leadership of Director General Kevin Bakhurst. The report was presented to the Cabinet before publication, reflecting the broadcaster's status as a publicly funded organisation accountable to the state.
Key Developments
The annual report confirmed that more than 300 individuals applied for the Voluntary Exit Programme in 2025, though only 67 staff members ultimately exited the organisation through the scheme. The total cost of those 67 departures was €8.5 million, with the combined annualised savings from the VEP exits and an additional 30 suppressed roles estimated at €8.4 million. Director General Kevin Bakhurst confirmed that RTÉ intends to run a second voluntary exit scheme later in 2026 as part of the ongoing restructuring.
The financial headline from the report is a net surplus of €22.5 million for 2025, a significant increase from the €5.5 million surplus recorded in 2024. Total revenue reached €383.4 million, compared to €380.4 million in the previous year. However, the broadcaster noted that the surplus was bolstered by "robustly controlled" headcount costs and the release of €9.6 million in accruals and provisions — an accounting adjustment that did not provide additional cash flow. The surplus is intended to support strategic initiatives including investments in new HR systems, a news app, and an audio app.
The revelation that nine of RTÉ's top ten earners in 2025 were senior managers has drawn significant political and public attention. The concentration of high salaries at the management level, rather than among on-screen talent, is a reversal of the pattern that characterised the broadcaster in earlier years and raises questions about the balance of remuneration within the organisation. The report did not name the individuals concerned, but the figures are expected to be the subject of scrutiny at the Oireachtas Media Committee.
Why It Matters
RTÉ's annual report is a document of significant public interest, given the broadcaster's status as the primary recipient of the television licence fee and a major beneficiary of state funding. The 2025 report arrives at a moment when RTÉ's relationship with the public and with the political establishment remains fragile following the 2023 scandal, and the figures it contains will be scrutinised closely for evidence of genuine reform.
The average exit package of approximately €127,000 per departing staff member is likely to attract criticism, particularly in the context of ongoing debates about public sector pay and the cost of living. While such packages are not unusual in the context of voluntary redundancy schemes in large organisations, the scale of the expenditure — €8.5 million in a single year — will raise questions about whether the restructuring is being managed in a cost-effective manner.
The surplus of €22.5 million, while superficially positive, requires careful interpretation. The release of €9.6 million in accruals and provisions is a one-off accounting adjustment that flatters the underlying financial performance, and the broadcaster's long-term financial sustainability depends on its ability to generate sustainable revenue growth rather than one-off adjustments. The planned second voluntary exit scheme in 2026 will add further costs before the savings materialise.
Local Impact
For the 67 staff members who departed RTÉ under the VEP, the exit packages represent a significant financial settlement that will support their transition to new employment or retirement. Many of those who left were experienced journalists, producers, and technical staff whose departure represents a loss of institutional knowledge and expertise that will take time to replace. The impact on RTÉ's programming output will become clearer over the coming months as the organisation adjusts to its reduced headcount.
For the broader Irish media sector, RTÉ's restructuring has implications for the competitive landscape. The departure of experienced staff from the national broadcaster creates opportunities for other media organisations, including independent production companies and digital news outlets, to attract talent. It also raises questions about the long-term capacity of Irish public broadcasting to fulfil its mandate of providing comprehensive news, current affairs, and cultural programming to Irish audiences.
What's Next
The 2025 Annual Report is expected to be the subject of a detailed examination by the Oireachtas Media Committee in the autumn session. Director General Kevin Bakhurst is likely to be called to give evidence on the restructuring programme, the management pay figures, and the broadcaster's plans for the second voluntary exit scheme. RTÉ is also expected to publish its strategic plan for 2026 to 2030 later in the year, which will set out in more detail how the broadcaster intends to achieve its headcount reduction targets while maintaining the quality and range of its programming output.
