Today’s revelation of an IT overspend of €900,000 by RTÉ shows that lack of transparency and mismanagement continue to plague the national broadcaster, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney.
Deputy Gibney, who is the party’s spokesperson on arts and the media, said:
“Just weeks after it emerged RTÉ had to write-down €3.6 million due to a partly failed IT project, we learn today of another waste of money at the station in recent years.
“Responding to a question I asked at today’s Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport Committee, a further €900,000 overspend on a Channel Management System was confirmed by a senior figure at the station. This resulted in an impairment of €390,000 being taken on the system for 2019.
“It is particularly shocking this matter has only come to light now given management’s pledge to oversee a new culture of transparency and accountability at RTÉ following a litany of controversies, which have undermined public confidence in the broadcaster.
“Despite receiving a bailout of €725 million from the taxpayer, this latest spending scandal again highlights the legacy of insufficient financial controls and poor governance at RTÉ.
“When public money is involved, it is vital there is honesty and transparency at all times. Yet the culture at RTÉ still seems shrouded in mystery.
“It must now be asked: did RTÉ plan to voluntarily disclose this particular overspend to the committee or has the matter only come into the public domain because I asked the right question?
“It is simply not good enough for these financial matters to be merely noted in RTÉ’s accounts – if the public interest is to be served, they need to be highlighted with the government as soon as they happen.”
May 28, 2025