Ireland’s public broadcaster RTÉ did not meet its redundancy targets after a voluntary exit program received fewer applications than planned, internal documents reveal.
Strict rules and tight deadlines reduced participation
The Voluntary Exit Programme (VEP) began in April 2025 and ended six weeks later. The broadcaster later admitted the timeline was too short. Records obtained through Freedom of Information show “40-plus” offers were made to staff, with a 60% acceptance rate.
Eligibility was limited to cases where an employee’s exit would eliminate their role or deliver equivalent savings. Applications that failed to meet this standard were denied. An internal review called the requirements “restrictive.”
The documents state the brief application period “created pressure on both the process and individuals deciding whether to accept.” The delayed start in April left RTÉ with less time to adapt its operations before the December 2025 exit deadline.
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Efforts behind the scenes were considerable. HR and finance teams spent significant resources reviewing 134 applications, yet only “40-plus” received offers. The analysis said the 60% acceptance rate “compounds the effort/cost challenge with the 2025 terms.”
Overall workforce reduction remains on schedule
RTÉ still plans to cut up to 400 positions by 2029. A spokesperson confirmed 97 exits occurred in 2025—67 through the VEP and 30 through role eliminations—producing annual savings of €8.5 million.
A second round is already in preparation. Each voluntary exit program requires government approval, and RTÉ has submitted a proposal to the Department of Communications. The spokesperson indicated the next phase would run longer than the six-week period used in 2025.
The internal review suggested RTÉ may need to adjust its strategy to meet targets. To secure 300 exits, the documents estimate around 500 offers would be necessary, requiring far more resources than the 2025 effort.
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The governance of the scheme was highlighted as a success. Centralized data and uniform business cases ensured fairness and simplified decisions for managers. That consistency was one of the few positive outcomes of the rollout.
The review warned that low participation could have implications for future redundancy programmes in the organisation.
The next voluntary exit program is expected to launch soon, though no date has been announced. RTÉ maintains confidence in reaching the full 400-exit goal by 2029, despite the initial shortfall.
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