Cash-strapped RTE spent more than €300,000 on guests and refreshments for two chat shows last year amid Covid-19 restrictions on travel and audience numbers.
The national broadcaster forked out €113,972 on guests for The Late Late Show in 2021, data obtained under Freedom of Information reveals.
Montrose bosses also approved a spend of €94,860 on 24 guests for eight episodes of Saturday night ratings flop Angela Scanlon: Ask Me Anything.