RAY D'Arcy's reported salary of up to €500,000 for returning to RTE has been condemned in the Dail as "ludicrous".

The move has prompted a Fine Gael TD to call for a "cap" in the State broadcaster.

Mr D'Arcy has moved from Today FM to RTE and could receive a package of close to €500,000 for his new radio and TV roles.

The 50-year-old is to return to the national broadcaster where he made his name on TV shows such as 'The Den', 'Jo Maxi' and 'Blackboard Jungle', in early 2015.

Fine Gael TD Ray Butler called for a "cap", but it was not clear if this related to funding or salaries in RTE.

"To see people getting €500,000 to go on RTE is ludicrous," he said.

Mr D'Arcy will not go on air at RTE until February 2 when he will take over Derek Mooney's 3pm afternoon slot on Radio One.

He will be one of the highest paid broadcasters at the station with sources saying he could top Ryan Tubridy's current salary of €495,000.

"It would take something in the region of €500,000 to get Ray to leave the commercial sector," a radio source told the Irish Independent.

"This is a case of RTE waving their cheque book to get the big stars."

Online Editors