539. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport further to his proposal before Budget 2027 to reduce the State's subvention to RTÉ by €20 million on performance grounds, and his subsequent confirmation that the 2027 allocation will remain at €240 million, the specific performance conditions that will be attached to RTÉ's 2027 funding; how delivery against those conditions will be measured and reported; and the safeguards in place to protect regional programming and staffing, including at RTÉ Cork, should funding be reduced in future years. [74010/26]

As has been set out previously, the allocations to each public body or initiative under the Department’s remit, including that for RTÉ, were based on the total available funding, in the context of the competing demands across the Department.

While an amount of €240 million, equal to the total level of public funding provided this year was secured for RTÉ, the full €260m originally provided for in the multi-annual funding arrangement for RTÉ announced in July 2024 was sought as part of the overall Budget 2027 allocation for the Department.

In balancing the competing needs for additional funding across the whole Department, and while guided primarily by the overall current funding available, regard was had to the pace of reform at RTÉ as one factor in this assessment.

While RTÉ has delivered and continues to deliver on its reform commitments, it must also be acknowledged that the pace of the reform is not what RTÉ had originally set out.

RTÉ has, however, provided assurances on the delivery of reform and there will be continued engagement with RTÉ over the coming weeks. Delivery of these reforms will be subject to ongoing monitoring by the Department and NewERA under arrangements put in place following the publication of the reports of the two Expert Advisory Committees which examined and made recommendations on a range of issues at RTÉ.

In relation to the ongoing delivery of the RTÉ strategy, in particular with regard to achievement of RTÉ’s public service objects, it is important to bear in mind that regarding issues of programming, staffing and facilities at RTÉ, the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that the broadcaster shall be independent in the pursuance of its objects.

However, RTÉ is subject to independent regulatory oversight by Coimisiún na Meán. This includes the preparation of an Annual Statement of Performance Commitments (ASPCs) in accordance with its objects and strategy. RTÉ’s ASPCs are assessed by Coimisiún na Meán, who as the regulator also conduct an annual review of RTÉ’s performance and public funding. An Coimisiún's role in this regard is being strengthened under the provisions contained in the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026.