The Director-General of RTÉ, Mr Bob Collins, repeated calls today for a €45 rise in the television licence fee.
Mr Collins said the company will expect a deficit of over €20 million if there is no licence fee increase.
Describing the current situation as "entirely unsustainable", Mr Collins said the company is under considerable cash pressure adding that remedial action had to be taken if the organisation were to survive.
Last year RTÉ reported a €70.9 million deficit while recent company accounts reflect higher wage costs, falling advertising revenue and an exceptional €21.5 million charge to pay for an "emergency" restructuring plan late last year. About 150 people are expected to leave the company as part of that programme, which follows a separate plan to reduce the net staff number by 330.
Last July, the Government granted an interim increase in the licence fee to €107 from €88.89. RTÉ had sought an increase to €152.
Speaking on Today with Vincent Browne, Mr Collins said he hoped the Government's earlier decision to review the licence fee increase next April would be brought forward to this year.
Meanwhile, the newly-established Forum on Broadcasting established to examine the future of Irish public-service broadcasting will hold its first public meeting tomorrow.
The forum will report on the role of public and commercial/independent broadcasting services in the State and the role of the independent audio-visual production sector. The report will be presented to the Government by the end of July.
