RTÉ’S PROJECTED deficit is €57 million this year, and this loss-making trend was “not sustainable”, Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte told a Dáil committee yesterday.
The deficit estimate Mr Rabbitte gave the committee for RTÉ yesterday was €7 million above the €50 million projection he gave to the Dáil in early May.
He was speaking about his department’s 2012 estimates before the Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources yesterday.
RTÉ’s target to “break-even” by 2013 “must be achieved”, Mr Rabbitte said.
A “significant part” of the projected deficit at RTÉ was due to a “restructuring programme” which would deliver “significant savings” in future.
The committee also heard about staffing problems at the Department of Communications.
Mr Rabbitte said he intended to increase staff numbers at his department “ as soon as possible” .
Staff numbers at the department had fallen dramatically and had reached levels that were a “cause for concern”. The department was “stretched” and there was an “onus” of the EU presidency, which Ireland is undertaking next year.
The committee also heard that Mr Rabbitte would meet his British energy counterpart, Charles Hendry, this month regarding selling of Irish electricity to the British market.
