RTÉ's Director General Dee Forbes has said if up to 300 people leave the broadcaster then that will have an impact on content and services.  Details of RTÉs redundancy and early retirement package have been announced, which could see between 250 and 300 people leave the organisation.

Under the scheme, those with more than ten years service in the organisation will be offered six weeks pay per year of service, plus statutory redundancy, capped at 104 weeks pay.

Those with less than ten years service will receive two weeks pay per year of service plus statutory redundancy.

Speaking to RTÉ News, Ms Forbes said any job losses are unfortunate but RTÉ's financial situation is precarious and the organisaion has to make sure that it is relevant and part of Irish culture and Irish life.

She said the aim is to "change the organisation to better serve the audience".

She said there is no doubt there will be an impact on content and services but until she saw the final number taking up the exit package, she could not say any more.   Ms Forbes said the job cuts will go some way, but will not solve all of RTÉ's financial problems. 

She said there is no doubt that "hard choices" will have to be made, and that they will be made in the coming months.

Asked if entire sectors could be cut at the broadcaster, Ms Forbes said all of that is under discussion and no decisions have been made as there is a lot to be taken into account.

Asked if she would still be seeking a licence fee increase, Ms Forbes again said this scheme would not solve all of RTÉ's problems.

She said there is a growing recognition that the licence fee needs to be reformed, the Oireachtas Committee are considering the issue and how that reform comes is yet to be decided.

In terms of compulsary redundancies in the future, she said there is no history of that in RTÉ, so that would have be "a different discussion".

She also said that if people leave under this new scheme, it cannot happen that they come back and work for the broadcaster on a freelance or contract basis at a later date.

At a staff meeting this afternoon, employees were also be briefed on internal restructuring at the broadcaster.

RTÉ announces structural changes and plans to reduce size of workforce

“More than ever Ireland needs, at its core, an RTÉ that enhances the creative capital of our country, supports and nurtures Irish talent, and allows the audience to see and to hear our own stories being told” – Dee Forbes, Director-General, RTÉ

RTÉ has announced ( 31st Sept 2017) more detail on the structural and operational changes as part of an ongoing review of the organisation originally announced in March. These changes, which were shared with RTÉ staff by Director-General, Dee Forbes and members of the RTÉ Executive, will allow RTÉ to evolve into an organisation that is better able to serve the changing needs of its audiences across its television, radio, online and mobile services in a dynamic and competitive market. Dee Forbes also informed staff of a new Voluntary Exit Programme and early retirement scheme, which will open next week, and which will reduce staff numbers at RTÉ by approximately 250.

Speaking to RTÉ staff, Dee Forbes said: “We have been working on the development of RTÉ’s new five-year strategy, a new organisational structure, and preparing for the launch of voluntary exit and early retirement schemes to reduce staff numbers. The changes announced today are important and necessary to ensure we can serve our audiences, continue to create content they value – when, where and how they want it – and remain relevant at the centre of cultural life in Ireland. 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.”

The organisational changes announced today will see RTÉ create a unified content structure led by Jim Jennings, which brings all its content makers outside RTÉ News & Current Affairs together in a single group, dedicated to making content across radio, television and digital. RTÉ News & Current Affairs division, headed up by Jon Williams already works across radio, television & online and will continue to do so. A new Audience, Channels and Marketing area, under the leadership of Adrian Lynch, will ensure a greater focus on how RTÉ serves its audiences, creating experiences that work across its different platforms. In addition, RTÉ has appointed Frances Abeton to head up a new integrated Operations & Production Services area, with camera crews, picture editors and studio staff working across all RTÉ shows and platforms.

Commenting on the changes, Dee Forbes said: “I grew up with RTÉ and I want RTÉ to still be around when future generations grow up. More than ever Ireland needs, at its core, an RTÉ that enhances the creative capital of our country; supports and nurtures Irish talent; and allows the audience to see and to hear our own stories being told. That is our core role and responsibility. I believe the changes we’ve outlined today set RTÉ on a new path, to ensure that it can continue to play a central and relevant role at the heart of national life.”

She continued: “The new television schedules launched last week highlight how great Irish content is at the heart of what we do and demonstrate our passion for public service media, a commitment to working with others, to discovering new talent and new faces, and to delivering standout national moments. In a world of fake news, misinformation and opinion; diminishing trust in public institutions and where the media environment is increasingly dominated by international programming and perspectives, it has never been more important that RTÉ continues to have a unique and invaluable role to play. I believe that role is worth defending, worth supporting and worth renewing. The changes announced today will help us to fulfill this role.”

While the changes announced today are largely internal, they will in time drive changes to the services and programming valued by our audiences. According to Dee Forbes, “There’s no disguising that alongside what I believe is an exciting future, there will also be some painful choices. 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.”

Full details of RTÉ‘s Voluntary Exit Programme and early retirement scheme will be shared with RTÉ staff next week.

The new RTÉ Executive Board comprises Dee Forbes (Director-General), Jon Williams (Director of News and Current Affairs), Jim Jennings (Director of Content), Breda O’Keeffe (Chief Financial Officer), Willie O’Reilly (Director of Commercial), Brian Dalton (Director of Corporate Affairs), Eimear Cusack (Director of HR), Frances Abeton (Director of Operations and Production Services), Adrian Lynch (Director of Audience, Channels and Marketing  and Richard Waghorn (Director of Transformation and Technology).

Earlier this year, RTÉ announced a deficit of €20 million for 2016 with difficulties facing the organisation including the ongoing impact of Brexit.