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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Daft.ie Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories RTE headquarters at DonnybrookAlamy Stock Photo RTÉ will close its in-house TV documentary unit next year The decision has been blasted by the National Union of Journalists. 7.55am, 6 Nov 2025 Share options RTÉ’s TV DOCUMENTARY unit is to cease production next year as part of changes at the broadcaster. The news was delivered at a meeting yesterday to staff at the in-house TV documentary unit, according to RTÉ’s Arts and Media Correspondent Evelyn O’Rourke. Some of the recent documentaries made by the unit include this month’s two-parter on the tracker mortgage scandal and a film called The Phone Box Babies looking at siblings abandoned separately at birth. RTÉ maintains this will not lessen its output and these staff will be re-assigned across RTÉ, with no job losses expected. The decision will reportedly not impact on RTÉ Investigates or the Doc on One radio teams. Advertisement However, the decision has been blasted as an example of “outsourcing” work to the commercial sector. Assistant general secretary of the National Union of Journalists Seamus Dooley said that outsourcing of the in-house team’s work “flies in the face” of commitments RTÉ makes in its mission statement. This includes an ambition to be “courageous” in its output. Dooley echoed a criticism that outsourcing may mean less challenging documentaries as the work will now be done by the commercial sector. “RTÉ exists not just to broadcast programmes Developing skills, nurturing of talent is key to RTÉ’s remit. Output is only one measurement,” Dooley said on social media. Last year saw criticism of RTÉ boss Kevin Bakhurst’s plans to outsource the production of the Late Late Show and Fair City amid fears that it amounted to privatisation of longstanding teams in the station. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. 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