THE FUTURE FUNDING model of RTÉ must not be a “sticking plaster solution”, the Taoiseach has said.

Simon Harris made the remarks as RTÉ waits for a decision on the model after the broadcaster published a road map for reform.

“I think it’s a very good start. In fairness to what RTÉ and its staff have gone through over the last stressful period of time, I do think the ball is now back in our court in terms of making a decision on a funding model for public service broadcasting.”

He said the decision should be made by the end of July.

Speaking to reporters at the Night And Day festival in Roscommon, Harris said that any model that the government decides on must be sustainable.

“There’s no point doing something that makes public service broadcasting sustainable for a few years but ends up leaving us back where we began.”

He said that he supports certain demographics, such as those over the age of 70, not paying a license, but that this has to factored into any model as that demographic grows in the future.

“There can’t be a sticking plaster solution, there has to be a sustainable model,” he said.

“We need to fix this for public service broadcasting – not just for RTÉ but it also has to be linked to continued ongoing reform in RTÉ.”