RTÉ submits revised exit scheme case five months after request
RTÉ has submitted an updated business case for a second round of its voluntary exit programme, five months after the Government requested more detail. The scheme is expected to reopen soon with looser eligibility rules, after its first round delivered far fewer departures than planned.
The programme, announced last year, aims to achieve 400 departures by 2029 but has so far resulted in 68 exits, despite more than 300 staff initially expressing interest. The first round required each departing employee’s role to be fully removed; that condition is expected to be relaxed. The revised plan must now be considered by the Minister before seeking further approval, as the Government has withheld €20 million from RTÉ’s promised €240 million in funding for next year, citing the slow pace of reform.
In short
- RTÉ has submitted the long-delayed case for a second exit scheme.
- The first round delivered 68 of a planned 400 departures.
- The next round is expected to have looser rules.
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The case for
A second voluntary exit round with looser eligibility rules could help RTÉ make faster progress towards its planned workforce reductions after the first round produced only 68 departures. If roles can be reorganised rather than simply removed, the scheme may give staff more practical options while allowing the broadcaster to pursue reform and manage public funding responsibly.
The case against
Relaxing the rules could make it harder to ensure that departures lead to lasting savings or preserve the skills RTÉ needs to serve the public. The limited results so far, despite substantial initial interest, also make it reasonable to seek stronger evidence that another round will deliver value before releasing the withheld funding.
Explained simply
RTÉ is Ireland’s public service broadcaster, funded through a mix of public money and its own income. It is carrying out changes to reduce costs and reshape its workforce, including a voluntary exit programme in which staff can choose to leave with agreed terms.
The programme aims for 400 departures by 2029, but only 68 people have left so far. Its first round required each departing worker’s role to be removed entirely; relaxing that rule could make it easier for staff to take part. The Government’s funding is linked to progress on RTÉ’s reforms, so the scheme also matters for the broadcaster’s finances.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “The infuriating reason some RTÉ staff believe management only provided the full business case for this year’s voluntary redundancy scheme last week – five months after it was first asked to do so”.