RTÉ Specialist Factual
Commissioning Editor, Specialist Factual
T: 01 2082867
E: colm.ocallaghan@rte.ie
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The Specialist Factual brief covers any content for linear or on-line that deals with History, Natural History, Wildlife, Environment, Science, Education, Diversity and, on occasion, one-off docs about sport and music.
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Duration: 1 - 3 episodes x 50 minutes or 75 minutes
Additional output across RTÉ on-line platforms, and www.rte.ie/history
Budget Range: Budget range for all content deliverables up to a maximum of €400,000
(Budgets should be costed to include clearances of all archives for future third-party use).
Channel: RTÉ One plus other RTÉ online platforms
Delivery: For broadcast and distribution, April 2026
Closing Date: 12 noon, Friday 10th January 2025
Full Brief
The 1926 Census was the first census undertaken following the establishment of the Irish State. It was carried out by the Statistics Branch of the Department of Industry and Commerce under the Statistics Act 1926. Census 1926 returns remain under the legal control of the Central Statistics Office [CSO]. After 100 years, the census returns must be formally transferred to the National Archives and released for public inspection. Census 1926 will be published online, searchable, and free of charge in April 2026.
On 18 April 1926, the population of Ireland was 2,971,992 with 49% female and 51% male. At the previous census in 1911, the population was 3,139,688 demonstrating a reduction of 5.3% in the population in 15 years to 1926. Dublin was the only county to record an increase in population of almost 6% in the intercensal period, while all other counties recorded a loss.
In 1926, a total of 92.6% of the population was Catholic and 18.3% could speak Irish. Of those employed, 51% were in agricultural occupations, 4% were fisherman, 14% were in manufacturing and 7% were domestic servants.
At present, Census 1926 is stored in 1,299 boxes, containing over 700,000 return sheets, each measuring approximately 630mm x 290mm. The returns are laced together in 2,494 canvas volumes each representing an enumeration area within each of the 26 counties. Digitisation will require that an image [or images] of each Census 1926 return is captured and entered into a searchable database, along with the 21 data sets contained in the returns. These are:
Data sets included in Household Returns [Form A]:
Data sets included in the Enumerators’ Returns [Form B] for each townland/street
RTÉ Factual, in association with the National Archives, is now seeking proposals for a major television and digital project that marks the unveiling of the 1926 Census to the general public for the first time.
We’re seeking original ideas with the 1926 Census at their core that can play on the prime-time schedules on RTÉ One in April 2026. We’re requesting producers and production companies to think laterally and outside the restrictions of the usual television documentary formats. Proposals can be in one or two parts and can run to either 50 minutes or 75 minutes only.
The content we’re looking for should highlight the importance of the records of the State in an historical, political, cultural and social context. Proposals should use, as primary source material, records from the 1926 Census.
Proposals can be authored or presenter-led and should be far-reaching in their ambition. All proposals should be historically sound and will require over-sight and input from named historians, social scientists, academics or cultural commentators.
For reference, we would urge producers and production companies to note some of RTÉ’s recent history output, especially ‘Cold Case Collins’, ‘Election ‘18’, ‘Treaty ‘21’, and ‘An Old Song Re-Sung’, all of which played prominently on RTÉ One and that took fresh approaches to the telling of history on television.
All proposals must also detail plans for the provision of additional content for use on RTÉ’s non-linear platforms, especially RTÉ Player, www.rte.ie/history and RTÉ’s audio channels. How might this production create and distribute shorter, bite-sized elements for non-linear audiences? We also ask all applicant companies to consider how we can work most effectively in association with the National Archives in the distribution of additional content in the digital space.
For the avoidance of doubt, in light of RTÉ’s obligations under the Broadcasting Act, RTÉ will retain the final editorial decisions on programme content.
We ask that all proposals are submitted, in the first instance, to RTÉ eCommissioning under Specialist Factual/Archives. The closing date for receipt of proposals is 12 noon, Friday 10th January 2025 (Strict Deadline).
About the National Archives
Occupying a central role in safeguarding the national memory and identity, the National Archives is responsible for preserving the archives of central government in Ireland. Established in 1988, when the main provisions of the National Archives Act, 1986 came into operation, the National Archives took over the functions and holdings of two older offices – the Public Record Office of Ireland (founded in 1867) and the State Paper Office (founded in 1702) – and now works to ensure the preservation and public availability of the records of central government in Ireland. It also preserves outstanding collections of private archives that complement those from official sources. www.nationalarchives.ie.
The vision of the National Archives is to secure the future of Ireland’s public record, safeguarding the memory of the State whilst visibly contributing to Irish cultural life.
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Duration: 50 minutes
Budget Range: €100,000-€130,000 per hour (If fully funded by RTÉ)
Broadcast: TBC
Channel: RTÉ One & RTÉ2
Duration: 25 minutes (number of programmes typically 6 to 8)
Budget Range: €90,000-€120,000 per hour (If fully funded by RTÉ)
Broadcast: TBC
Channel: RTÉ One & RTÉ2
Full Brief
RTÉ has a rich history of producing exceptional content in this area. Recent notable projects include The Island (New Decade), Ireland’s Wild Islands (Crossing the Line Films), and North Atlantic (Sea Fever Productions). These ambitious, long-term projects are shot over extended periods and aim for international reach. We will continue to prioritize proposals that explore Ireland’s unique physical landscape, both above and below ground.
Upcoming projects include Wild Connemara (Crossing the Line Films), a multi-part series set in the West of Ireland, and another multi-part series in County Kerry from the producer of The Burren: Heart of Stone (Silver Branch Films). Additionally, a long-term series will examine the evolution of life in rural Ireland. These high-end, multi-funded projects are designed to appeal to international audiences.
Our Natural History content can be scheduled on Sundays, either before or after the watershed, and on weekdays before the watershed. These can be half-hour segments or, when suitable, one-off hour-long specials. An example is Shane Brennan’s film Shackleton’s Cabin (Moondance), which highlights the work of Sven Habermann. We are particularly interested in pre-watershed series that integrate various disciplines such as social history, geography, heritage, and architectural science.
We will continue to support innovative perspectives and formats, including ambitious live events that attract family audiences and projects that encourage mass viewer participation.
Producers are invited to submit their ideas through the RTÉ eCommissioning system under the category Factual Specialist “Natural History & Wildlife”.
Information
Duration: 50 minutes
Budget Range: €100,000-€130,000 per hour (If fully funded by RTÉ)
Broadcast: TBC
Channel: RTÉ One & RTÉ2
Duration: 25 minutes (number of programmes typically 6 to 8)
Budget Range: €90,000-€120,000 per hour (If fully funded by RTÉ)
Broadcast: TBC
Channel: RTÉ One & RTÉ2
Full Brief
RTÉ has significantly expanded its history programming during the Decade of Centenaries, enhancing both the volume and the diversity of its content. We aim to continue broadening our approach to interpreting and narrating Ireland’s history.
Treaty ‘21 (Loose Horse Productions) explored the creation of Northern Ireland in 1921/1922 through a mix of drama, studio analysis, and online content. An Old Song Re-Sung (South Wind Blows) celebrated Ireland’s accession to the League of Nations with a live concert at Dublin’s RDS, featuring music, poetry, dance, spoken word, and song.
Our focus will now shift to more recent Irish history, specifically events post-1966. Examples include Calling Card, a film about musician Rory Gallagher by Brian Reddin, and an upcoming documentary on Lord Henry Mount Charles. Other projects will explore Irish businesses and industries since the 1980s.
We are particularly interested in proposals that can secure third-party or ancillary funding, especially those with academic partnerships. Special consideration will be given to ambitious projects that examine Ireland’s transformation over its relatively short history. Recent examples include The Silent Civil War (Scratch Films) and Cold Case Collins (Loose Horse).
We welcome new voices and fresh perspectives, both on and off camera. All proposals should be strong enough to broadcast on Mondays at 9:35 PM on RTÉ One but can also be scheduled as standalone event pieces.
Producers are invited to submit their ideas through the RTÉ eCommissioning system under the category Factual Specialist “History”.
Upcoming set-pieces on Michael Collins and the Irish Civil War will continue to innovate.
The slate also covers more recent Irish history. Broadstone Films’ ‘Sold: The Eircom Shares Saga’, the authored Vincent Hanley one-off, ‘Sex, Lies and Videotapes’ from Mind The Gap Films and Dearg Films’ ‘How Ireland Rocked the ‘70s’ are all examples of Specialist factual output aired over the last eighteen months whose narratives have been rooted in Ireland’s complicated social under-bellies.
More generally, proposals that can attract third-party and/or ancillary funding are of special interest. Particularly projects that have academic partnerships in place: editorial, financial or both.
Special consideration will now be given to ambitious, provocative strands about the transformation of Ireland over the course of its relatively short history. To this end, an upcoming two-parter about the history of Civil War politics in
Ireland is also about the changing face of Ireland and Irish society in the one hundred years since independence.
More generally, we are actively seeking bigger, event-based approaches to content and are also interested in new voices and fresh perspectives, both on camera and off.
All proposals should be strong enough to play on Mondays at 9.35 on RTÉ One but can also come into the schedule as self-standing event pieces.
We ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system Login | RTE (rtegroup.ie) system under the programme category Factual Specialist “History”.
Information
Duration: 50 minutes
Budget Range: €100,000-€130,000 per hour (If fully funded by RTÉ)
Broadcast: TBC
Channel: RTÉ One & RTÉ2
Duration: 25 minutes (number of programmes typically 6 to 8)
Budget Range: €90,000-€120,000 per hour (If fully funded by RTÉ)
Broadcast: TBC
Channel: RTÉ One & RTÉ2
Full Brief
RTÉ continues to support innovative and original content in the areas of science, climate, and education. Current projects include a second series of the climate and sustainability series Heated (indiepics) and the three-part documentary Rising Tides by Philip Boucher Hayes (Earth Horizon).
The slate will continue to support Science Week, co-funded with Science Foundation Ireland, featuring inventive strands like Hospital Live and Future Island. Future plans include a three-part series on the future of Irish towns and a multi-part series on addiction.
Recent projects include one-off documentaries like Gamechanger: AI and You (Animo) and Father of the Cyborgs (Dot TV), co-funded with Screen Ireland. The slate also featured films on the experiences of the Irish deaf and hard-of-hearing communities and a Coimisiún na Meán Sound & Vision funded documentary on dyslexia, Lost for Words (Subotica).
Proposals should include plans for digital additionality and dual-platform storytelling. RTÉ is open to strategic and funding partnerships, advertiser-funded programming, and completion funding. Projects that comply with the Coimisiún na Meán Sound and Vision scheme are particularly encouraged.
Producers are invited to submit their ideas through the RTÉ eCommissioning system under the category Factual Specialist “Science & Education”.
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History of the Fund
In November 2016, RTÉ and ARTE G.E.I.E., the Strasbourg branch of the Franco-German public broadcaster ARTE, joined forces to develop and co-fund exceptional documentary projects, aiming to bring more Irish content to European audiences. Since then, ARTE G.E.I.E. and RTÉ have invested in a diverse range of Irish documentaries covering factual topics, current affairs, history, and the arts. The collaboration between ARTE commissioning editors and Irish production companies has flourished, creating numerous opportunities for Irish creative talent.
Full Brief
Practical Information
The fund operates on a rolling basis, with projects being developed and funded continuously. We seek standout single documentaries that have secured development or broadcast commitments from an RTÉ Commissioning Editor, which can then be pitched to ARTE’s specific documentary strands. Most documentaries for ARTE are 52 minutes long and do not include commercial breaks. The RTÉ version of the programme should be a 50 minute duration with two commercial breaks as agreed with the RTÉ Commissioning Editor.
RTÉ and ARTE welcome ideas from all genres, including Factual, Specialist Factual, Science and Natural Science, History, Archaeology and Human Endeavour, Current Affairs/Geopolitics, and Arts, Culture, and Music. We are particularly interested in compelling Irish stories with international appeal, whether they focus on ancient or contemporary history, arts, or society/current affairs. Ambitious factual, specialist factual, and arts documentaries that resonate with both Irish and European audiences are highly valued.
Given that ARTE documentaries are broadcast in multiple territories, projects led by voiceovers that can be revoiced in several languages are preferred. Presenter-led documentaries or series are generally not suitable for ARTE, except in rare cases where the presenter is a global icon, such as Angelica Huston on Joyce by Blueprint Films.
Completed projects must be delivered to ARTE 6-8 weeks before the broadcast date to allow time for translation, subtitling, and revoicing in French and German, as well as Polish, Spanish, and Italian for on-demand services. The costs for revoicing and subtitling are covered by ARTE and should not be included in the programme production budgets.
How To Apply
Production companies interested in submitting a programme proposal for the fund should initially submit their proposal through RTÉ’s e-Commissioning system Login | RTE (rtegroup.ie) . Indicate that the idea is suitable for co-production with ARTE and provide information on any other third-party funders if applicable. If the proposal is approved for further consideration, Sarah Ryder, RTÉ’s ARTE lead, will present it to the relevant ARTE commissioning executives.
Further information
For more details on the RTÉ / ARTE G.E.I.E. co-production fund, please contact Sarah Ryder at sarah.ryder@rte.ie.