Independent TV producers concerned over RTÉ funding cut

The CEO of Screen Producers Ireland has warned that the Government’s decision to withhold €20m in funding from RTÉ could have serious consequences for independent television producers and audiences.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Late Debate, Susan Kirby said the decision undermines the multi-year funding commitment agreed in 2024.

“From our perspective, it’s been very welcome that there was a multi-year commitment agreed in 2024 in terms of RTÉ’s funding.

“And certainly, I think removing €20 million from that commitment, or not standing by that commitment, is enormously concerning because, obviously, there’s every likelihood that, as Kevin Bakhurst articulated, those pretty difficult decisions, the impact there is on the independent production sector, and it’s on our audiences.”

Earlier this week, Minister for Media Patrick O’Donovan confirmed that RTÉ is to receive less funding in Budget 2027 than had been originally forecast.

The funding was expected to reach €260m for 2027 as part of the €725m three-year agreement but instead will stand at €240m, representing a decrease of €20m.

Minister O’Donovan said the decrease was due to his dissatisfaction with what he called the broadcaster’s progress in implementing promised reforms.

RTÉ Director-General Kevin Bakhurst rejected the minister’s claim that the pace of reform and transformation had been slow.

In an email to staff on Wednesday, Mr Bakhurst said that this decision “is one we had not anticipated and will inevitably impact on our ability to deliver our five-year strategy”.

‘Very real impact’ on film and TV industry

Screen Producers Ireland is a representative group of independent producers in the film and television industry in Ireland.

Ms Kirby said its members are the makers of “everything from The Traitors to Normal People to An Cailín Ciúin to First Dates, Dancing with the Stars, The Lost Children of Tuam”.

She said the creative screen sector in Ireland is “a very significant employer”.

“It’s returning about €1 billion in gross value add, and its overall economic contribution in 2025 was about €540 million.

“We estimate that there’s about 16,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the sector.

“So there’s a very real impact here in terms of both, predominantly regionally in terms of TG4, but also regionally and throughout the country, in Dublin, Wicklow and beyond, for RTÉ.”