With the economy in good health again there seem to be many in the Government and the cosseted semi-State sector who seem to think public money ought to be thrown around once more like confetti on various pet projects instead of being spent on various projects with people in urgent need or even returned to hard-working taxpayers who earned the money in the first place. Relevant is the question of funding of public broadcasting, particularly RTÉ. As we know, earlier this week the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, called for RTÉ to get a €30 million increase in annual funding "at a minimum", citing significant challenges in a rapidly evolving media industry. That was the reason given for the taxpayer to prop up this money drain. The BAI even stated there may be a case for increased funding in excess of €30 million and, unsurprisingly, the chairman, Dr. Pauric Travers, requested that the Minister and the Government urgently address the financing required for public service broadcasting.

This is at a time when the Government is struggling to keep the national homelessness figure below five figures and we have a national debt equivalent to 68% of the country's GDP. RTÉ received €186 million through the licence fee in 2017, and that is taxpayers' money going to an organisation that recorded a deficit in six of the past nine years and only avoided one in 2017 because of cash generated from selling land.

The Senator could boycott it.

Is the campus at Montrose a listed structure or something? Is there a compelling reason RTÉ must continue to sit on this expensive landbank? Given the improved technology available and improved motorways, would it not be just as reasonable and would it not create a better urban-regional spread if RTÉ operated in the future from somewhere in the midlands such as Longford, Westmeath or Offaly?

Perhaps Athlone.

The land has massive value. TV3, recently renamed as Virgin Media, has its entire operation in an industrial estate on the edge of the city. It gives the organisation space for new studios and expansion, whereas RTÉ is hemmed in on some of the most valuable land in Dublin. Perhaps we should have the Minister of State responsible for the Office of Public Works in to tell us whether the campus is a listed structure or there is a compelling reason the land cannot be disposed of to save the taxpayer some money. We should also have the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in to speak to the matter, as RTÉ must restructure its operations. The capital released from moving would allow the company to purchase new facilities and clear its debt. In the knowledge or expectation of an unrestricted cash flow, it seems instead to be following the example of many by having no incentive to reduce costs or any serious attempt towards a more efficient use of resources.