RTÉ seeking further lay-offs

RTÉ is seeking further job cuts and has reopened its voluntary redundancy and early retirement scheme.

The State broadcaster said it will be the final opportunity for staff to receive pensions based on pre-paycut salaries.

In a statement to staff RTÉ said it was reviewing applications which had already been received but which had not been decided on by management.

The scheme is open to applications until October 12th and all applications will be processed rapidly, it said.

The digital era was fundamentally changing the shape and form of broadcasting organisations, RTÉ told staff in a statement. The recession demanded that it make significant efficiency improvement in all key operational areas, the statement added.

The last round of redundancy applications in May was oversubscribed.

The station sought 200 redundancies in May and received 264 expressions of interest (of which 39 turned down the offer). RTÉ has approved 120 departures and is ready to approve 50 more.

However last May it had not finalised arrangements for restructuring some operations, including the regions, and for reforming work practice.

There was a significant cost-saving announcement by RTÉ in its regional services last week.

Costs will be cut by a new partnership agreement whereby the station’s regional offices and studio facilities in Waterford, Dundalk, Athlone, Galway and Sligo will be moved to local institutes of technology

Last week RTÉ’s chief news correspondent, Charlie Bird, was among 80 RTÉ staff who left as part of an extended voluntary redundancy/early retirement scheme.