SerpApi.Org
Some of RTÉ's senior management are now earning more than the station's brightest stars as its annual report has been published.
Executives at RTÉ have made up nine of the 10 highest earners in the organisation, according to the broadcaster's 2025 annual report.
According to the remuneration list contained in the report, former presenter Claire Byrne, who earned €280,000, is the only on-air talent among the top earners in 2025.
RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst was RTÉ's highest earner in 2025, receiving total remuneration of €339,538, comprising his basic salary, €62,500 in pension payments, €25,000 in allowances and €2,038 in other payments.
Adrian Lynch, deputy director general, earned a total of €293,627, while Richard Waghorn, chief technology officer (CTO), received €291,160. Deirdre McCarthy, director of news and current affairs, earned €285,063.
Mari Hurley, who resigned as chief financial officer earlier this year, received €276,344, while Steve Carson, director of video, earned €276,282.
Eimear Cusack, HR director, received €274,721, while Gavin Deans, RTÉ's commercial director since the end of 2023, earned €269,055.
Patricia Monahan, RTÉ’s director of audio in 2024, also received €269,055.
An RTÉ spokesperson said the publication of remuneration details for the broadcaster's leadership team in its annual reports followed a commitment made by Mr Bakhurst in 2023.
'The figures published in RTÉ's 2025 Annual Report include pension payments and allowances where they exist.
'So, remuneration is made up of salary, pension and allowances (in five cases). Newly appointed members of the Leadership Team had no allowances such as car allowances on top of their salaries. RTÉ added the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer role in 2025 following the EAC Report recommendation.
'Please also note that a number of Leadership Team members were appointed in 2024, so salary/pension details cover part of that year.'
Mr Bakhurst said last year was the 'first year of our New Direction five-year strategy', adding: 'And we made good progress in implementing it and in rigorously managing our finances, delivering another annual surplus.
'We reduced our staff numbers through our 2025 Voluntary Exit Programme and other departures as part of our plans to become smaller and more agile and to reduce our cost base over the five years of the strategy.'
The exit costs associated with the 67 members of staff who left RTÉ in 2025 under the voluntary exit programme (VEP) were €8.5M.
The annualised savings of the 67 staff who exited, along with the suppression of 30 other roles across the organisation in 2025, led to €8.4M in savings, RTÉ has confirmed.
And the report also revealed the sales of TV licence fee units continue on a downward trend, with 768,657 sold in 2025, down from 792,243 in 2024.
The decline of 3% was offset by an increase in income from the Department of Social Protection relating to 'free TV licences.'
