DONOHOE: No licence to print money to fund RTE

Govt can't fully plug finances hole

- LOUISE BURNE

PASCHAL Donohoe has warned the Government will not be able to fully bridge the gap in RTE’s finances if licence fee revenue continues to plummet. 

Suggestions that the national broadcaster may require a bailout have been growing in recent days as newly-released figures show that the amount of people paying the €160 licence fee has plummeted.

In the first week of July it fell by 27% compared to the same period last year. This dropped further to 31% in the second week of the month.

While a Government bailout has not been ruled out, ministers have said that the situation at the broadcaster will be monitored before any decision is made.