THE SUPPOSEDLY cash-strapped broadcaster RTE are set to spend around €200,000 on five brand new 4x4 vehicles.
This is despite the recent news that they're looking to cut around 200 jobs and that the taxpayer will be forking out €50 million to bail the company out over the next five years.
An RTE spokesperson said that the top-of-the-range all-purpose vehicles were intended for use by 2rn staff, according to the Irish Independent.
2rn is a subsidiary company of RTE which maintains and manages all of the country's transmission network facilities, which are used by a number of different broadcast companies.
4x4 stock"The vehicles allow 2rn's staff to gain rigging and engineering access to the main sites which are distributed throughout the countryside," the spokesperson said.
"Many of them are very remote and require a 4x4 vehicle to access them.
"RTE and other broadcasters broadcast from these sites 24 hours a day, seven days a week in all weather conditions, and for this reason, the appropriate vehicles are required."
RTE's financial difficulties were revealed in November when they announced they need to make €60 million in reductions over the next three years.
The broadcaster pledged to "reduce the fees paid to our top contracted on-air presenters by 15%", which is in addition to cuts of "over 30% agreed in previous years."
Forbes later admitted the broadcaster was facing a "fight for the future" amidst their financial issues.
RTE executives are to take a 10% reduction in pay and the board of RTE have said it will "waive its fees".
