Comprehensive coverage of Budget 2026 on RTÉ across TV, radio and online
RTÉ will provide comprehensive coverage and analysis of Budget 2026 across online, radio and television on Tuesday 7 October with extensive reporting and reaction in both English and as Gaeilge. From early morning, RTÉ News will carry in-depth coverage of Budget 2026 online and on the RTÉ News social media channels. Speeches announcing Budget 2026 from the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be broadcast live from Dáil Éireann on RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ One, RTÉ Player, RTÉ News Channel and on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
Sharon Ní Bheoláin and David McCullagh will introduce RTÉ’s live coverage of speeches from Dáil Éireann in an RTÉ news special Budget 2026 starting at 12.40pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ News Channel. The programme will include comprehensive reaction and analysis of the Government’s plans on taxation, housing, health and other budgetary measures.
Once proceedings are under way in the Dáil, a live blog on RTÉ.ie/news and on the RTÉ News app will carry the very latest updates from Budget 2026, with video capturing key moments of the day distributed across all RTÉ news’ digital platforms. RTÉ News’ online explainer ‘Budget 2026 at a glance’ will give audiences a comprehensive overview of what’s in the financial plan, while RTÉ News’ political staff and specialist correspondents will offer expert analysis on what the budget means for different sectors. Later in the day, RTÉ’s online budget coverage will include multiple household profiles, breaking down how the budget will impact different families around the country. Live streams of RTÉ’s television and radio coverage will be available worldwide to users via the RTÉ News app, RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio Player.
RTÉ Radio 1’s coverage of the Budget speeches will broadcast live on an extended News at One with Rachael English from 12.45pm until 3.30pm. Rachael English will host immediate reaction and analysis to the financial plan. At 4.30pm, a Drivetime budget special, presented by Cormac Ó’hEadhra and Claire Brock, will analyse the key talking points from the budget announcement with an interview with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers. From 10pm The Late Debate presented by Colm Ó Mongáin will be live from Buswells Hotel next to the Houses of the Oireachtas with a panel of politicians and experts to interrogate the detail of Budget 2026.
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta will provide coverage as Gaeilge of Budget 2026 on Lá na Cáinaisnéise and Tús Áite. Both programmes will analyse the implications and likely political fallout of the decisions announced in the Budget and get reaction from public representatives. Lá na Cáinaisnéise presented by Máirín Ní Ghadhra will cover Budget 2026 live from Leinster House from 1.30pm. The programme will feature analysis from expert panelists: tax consultant Deirdre Ní Mhaoláin, journalist Áine Ní Chiaráin, Head of Fiontar and Scoil na Gaeilge in DCU Ciarán Mac an Bhaird, Professor of Sociology in Maynooth University Seán Ó Riain and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s Political Reporter Cuan Ó Seireadáin.
Coverage continues on Tús Áite from 5pm, presented by Fachtna Ó Drisceoil live from Leinster House. His panel will include economist Sean Byrne, Ollamh Cúnta in DCU Emer Ní Bhrádaigh and Conradh na Gaeilge’s Roisín Ní Chinnéide. Nuacht RTÉ le TG4 at 5.45pm on RTÉ One will outline the new measures in Budget 2026 and capture reaction from experts and opposition. RTÉ News podcast Behind the Story will sum up the main talking points from Budget 2026 in a bonus episode on Tuesday 7 October.
An extended Six One News, presented by David McCullagh and Sharon Tobin, will have reports on all the main measures announced in Budget 2026 with analysis from RTÉ correspondents, plus live interviews with Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers and others. Sharon Ní Bheoláin will update viewers on the reaction to the financial measures in the Budget on Nine O’Clock News. On Prime Time, Miriam O’Callaghan and Sarah McInerney will put the key issues arising from the Budget to Minister for Finance Paschal Donohue and Sinn Féin spokesperson on finance, Pearse Doherty. Members of the public will share their views, followed by expert analysis from KPMG and others.
Morning Ireland will continue the analysis on Wednesday morning examining the main talking points and reaction from opposition parties on RTÉ Radio 1 and the RTÉ News Channel. Later at 10am, Claire Byrne will be joined in studio by Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers for the annual budget phone-in special. As always, Today with Claire Byrne invites listeners to put their questions about Budget 2026 directly to the Ministers.
ENDS
Issued: Friday 3 October 2025