RTÉ has reported a deficit of €6.4 million for 2017 and has warned the Government it faces a “serious financial position”.
The Cabinet will consider the national broadcaster’s annual report at its weekly meeting on Tuesday, ahead of publication of the results for 2017 next week.
The report acknowledges there has been a significant reduction in the broadcaster’s losses since 2016, when it reported a €20 million deficit.
This loss had been expected due to the organisation’s spend of €16.1 million on its coverage of the general election, Euro 2016, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 1916 centenary celebrations.
Despite the public service broadcaster’s voluntary-redundancy scheme, the sale of a part of its campus and new organisational structures, the 2017 annual report warns of continued serious financial challenges.
The director general of RTÉ, Dee Forbes, says the uncertainty surrounding the television licence fee system, difficulties arising from Brexit, and falling advertising revenues paint an urgent and bleak financial picture for the organisation.
A spokeswoman for Minister for Communications Denis Naughten declined to be drawn on the RTÉ report or its contents, insisting it was a matter for the organisation.