Staff on RTÉ's religious programmes to be redeployed as Donnybrook masses end
It has announced it will shift in-house Christian productions on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player to a variety of churches nationwide.
The move is part of a plan to commission Christian worship content from independent producers from next year.
An RTÉ spokesperson said the plan will be carried out in partnership with Ireland's 'major denominations' from a number of 'hub' churches.
When asked if a Sunday mass will still be broadcast, he said there will be no change to the service, apart from it being produced in the independent sector.
Roger Childs, RTÉ's commissioning editor of religious content, said masses, services and other forms of Christian worship will continue to be broadcast every Sunday and on Christian holidays.
This includes St Patrick's Day, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
When asked about the impact of the move on workers, a spokesperson said management met with the team involved in the delivery of masses and services and 'they were informed that they would be redeployed to other programmes when this move happens'.
A letter from the RTÉ Group of Unions to HR chief Eimear Cusack yesterday sought an urgent meeting to discuss the changes and impact on members.
Siptu sector organiser Robbie Purfield said he believes fewer than 50 staff who work on religious programming will be affected.
This is a public service and should be kept in-house. This could be the thin edge of the wedge. What's next?
He said Siptu members want management to reverse the decision to outsource production, including the mass broadcasts, to the independent sector.
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'These workers are in various grades, but the religious programme is not all they do,' he said. 'They would do everything from setting up the altar to the technical and operational elements, but now there will be less work for them.
'I know part of the strategy is that RTÉ needs to broadcast more from the independent sector, but this is a public service and should be kept in-house. This could be the thin edge of the wedge. What's next?'
Mr Purfield said there has been no consultation with unions on the plan.
RTÉ's managing editor of video and director of content, Seán Mac Giolla Phádraig, said technological advances mean it is possible to broadcast masses and services cost-effectively from churches nationwide.
He said this would enable RTÉ to shift production from the Donnybrook studio base into 'authentic congregational worship settings' across 32 counties.
Mr Childs said studio production of worship content has served audiences well for many years. However, the current production model requires groups to often travel long distances to Montrose.
In addition, he said the studio's limited capacity allows for only a small representative presence from the featured parishes or school groups.
A spokesperson said the launch of the new commissioning process is in line with RTÉ's 'New Direction' strategy.
He said the Future of Media Commission recommended that 25pc of public funding to RTÉ is invested in the independent sector, and the Government intends to put this into legislation.
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