An increasing number of people see paying the TV licence fee as optional, RTÉ's former political correspondent David Davin Power has said.

The broadcaster is to be given a bailout in next month’s budget, Media Minister Catherine Martin yesterday confirmed.

RTÉ has asked for €34.5 million - but the Minister Martin declined to put a figure on the amount that will be provided, or set out the terms and conditions that could come with it.

Describing the way the executives handled the Ryan Tubridy payment scandal as "a stick for its own back", Mr Davin Power told The Pat Kenny Show the drop-off in licence fee payments is a new problem.

"I don't anybody predicted the plunge in licence fee income that followed this," he said.

"It seems to be enduring and it looks like it will present an ongoing problem for RTÉ that people aren't willing to support the organisation by paying the licence fee.

"That's a new element in the equation that nobody had predicted.

"The figures seem to show an increasing number of people are beginning to regard it as optional [which] is the new element in the equation."

RTÉ Director-General Kevin Bakhurst. Picture by: Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Mr Davin Power said the big test for the broadcaster is to show real changes are being made.

"The challenge for RTÉ is to produce for the Government a really compelling reform and restructuring document," he said.

"As RTÉ, historically, has come in looking for more money to bridge this gap and that gap, executives have really failed, repeatedly, to come up with any concrete proposals as to how the organisation would change were it to be given increased funding.

"I think that is the challenge for Kevin Bakhurst."

'They want to see results'

Mr Davin Power said he believes the Government has run out of patience.

"Ministers have really run out of patience with RTÉ coming in, year on year, looking for more cash," he said.

"They want to see results and the results will have to be reflected in reform of the organisation."

He said this means the issue of headcount at the broadcaster will "sooner or later have to be tackled."

Referring to its annual report, Mr Davin Power said he is surprised by where the licence fee goes.

"According to the figures €80 goes on television, €27 goes on radio, but only €12 goes on digital channels and RTÉ's digital policy," he said.

"That seems to be me, in a digital age, to be a small proportion," he added.

Main image: David Davin Power is seen covering a Sinn Fein Ard Fheis for RTÉ in 2005. Image: RollingNews.ie