In its annual report released on Monday, RTÉ reported a net deficit of €9.1 million for 2023, describing it as “a challenging year” for the organization.

Earlier this year, the Government introduced a new financial support plan, ensuring RTÉ receives guaranteed funding through direct Exchequer top-ups to supplement TV licence fee revenues.

The report highlighted a drop in TV licence income, along with rising operating costs and special broadcasts, as key factors contributing to the deficit.

RTÉ reiterated its criticism of the current TV licence system, stating it increasingly fails to reflect how people now consume public service content. It pointed to other countries where non-device-dependent media charges have been implemented.

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships on Monday, Simon Harris commented: “It is RTÉ’s role to manage the public service broadcaster responsibly and, frankly, to get their act together.”

Under the new financial arrangement, the Government will provide RTÉ with an estimated €42 million next year, after accounting for projected licence fee revenues.

This funding package, which falls short of RTÉ’s request, was approved following the Government’s review of the broadcaster’s five-year reform strategy.

The development comes after a year marked by crisis management at RTÉ due to governance and financial scandals, further exacerbating the ongoing decline in TV licence revenue.

An Post, responsible for collecting the €160 annual fee for TV-owning households, will also receive an additional €6 million to enhance its collection processes.

Mr. Harris added: “Regarding the financial situation, we’ve significantly assisted them – and by ‘we’, I mean the taxpayers of this country – because we value public service broadcasting.

“But it is the elected Government of Ireland that will make decisions on how to fund these services, not RTÉ.

“RTÉ is entitled to express its view, but we’ve decided – and I fully support this decision – that a licence fee, collected without additional cost and supplemented by Exchequer funding, is the best approach. While RTÉ provides excellent public service broadcasting, it’s important to recognize that other media outlets do as well.

“I’d like to see the media fund, which supports local, regional, and other media organizations, grow in the upcoming Budget and in future years.”

He also emphasized that while RTÉ is free to comment, his primary concern is ensuring the broadcaster’s financial accountability and progress on the reform agenda it has committed to.