RTÉ Spent €230,706 on Luxury Chauffeur Services, Documents Show

Overview

• Documents given to the Public Accounts Committee show RTÉ paid €230,706 for 1,106 chauffeur trips since 2021, an average cost of about €208 per journey with 93 trips recorded so far this year.
• Contract papers specify high‑spec vehicles such as Mercedes S class or BMW 7 Series and 24/7 availability in the Dublin area, and list payments to three firms: Goldstar DC (€153,270), Michael Devine (€75,905) and Optimum (€1,531).
• RTÉ says the car hires, which include saloon cars, six‑seat vehicles and minibuses, are needed to move guests for live shows and events and that many contributors still use taxis for routine travel.
• Political leaders have demanded accountability in the Dáil, the Taoiseach has said the Government will not defend excessive spending, RTÉ executives are expected before the PAC in July and ministers are advancing a Broadcasting Bill to place RTÉ accounts under the state auditor.
• The revelations follow RTÉ’s 2023 governance and pay scandals and large state support for the broadcaster, and are now intensifying scrutiny of procurement, internal spending culture and wider taxi costs reported for 2025 and 2026.