RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst has confirmed to staff that there has been a reduction of 100 in staff headcount through natural attrition, over the last 12 months.Speaking to staff at a townhall meeting which was held both in person and online, Mr Bakhurst said that there has been a lower headcount in RTÉ now than there had been in 2023.RTÉ has previously confirmed that the recruitment freeze from 2023 was modified at the start of 2024 to allow recruitment for essential roles, and over the last months fewer than ten permanent roles have been created.The Director General told the meeting that he is continuing to keenly monitor the progress of the formal Voluntary Exit Package (VEP) process with the Department of Media.This VEP package is due to initially yield 40 RTÉ staff jobs, with personnel costs as a percentage of operating costs to be reduced from 51% in 2024 to 45% in 2029, according to the "New Direction" strategy published in June.Mr Bakhurst conveyed his frustration at the delays in obtaining Governmental approval for the long-awaited VEP though, which he told staff they had "submitted for approval back in March".He told the meeting that he had just checked in with the Department of Media an hour before addressing the meeting to get a progress update on the 'VEP' schedule, however he is still no clearer on a possible timeline.The Director General outlined however since submitting the proposals, he has spent the last months being told that there would be "a decision in the coming weeks" but that that timeline has dragged on and today, again, he was told to expect more information "in the coming weeks".He said that he continues to be optimistic that the process will be in progress by the end of the year.In terms of RTÉ's implementation of the recommendations from the Expert Advisory Commitee, Mr Bakhurst said he "is satisfied at this point, that 1/3 have been achieved" and the remaining recommendations are 'in hand'".The issue of 'Fair City' and 'The Late Late Show' moving off site was also discussed and he stated that these two shows "are critical parts of our portfolio," adding that The Late Late show is "defining for the organisation" and that "we are not going to do anything that undermines them".He said that while both need to be based in Dublin, there were no definite answers yet as "everything is still on the table".In the case of 'Fair City,' he told staff that "we have had a level of interest - unsolicited about Fair City" so they are currently reviewing all options.There was a presentation to staff about the audience figures for both TV and Audio services in RTÉ, with confirmation that Virgin Media has, at this point, attracted the "most watched programme" with its broadcast of the Ireland v France Rugby match, however RTÉ dominated the rest of the top 20 programmes.
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