RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst has said he has engaged with non-government parties, including Sinn Féin, about his plan for the future of the national public service broadcaster.

Speaking on Prime Time, he acknowledged the new strategic plan published on Tuesday is "completely dependent on a public funding settlement."

"We are in the hands of the government at the moment," he said.

"We are relying on the government being there long enough to agree a public funding plan for RTÉ and for the wider media in Ireland, and to implement it so that it is in place to take effect in 2025, which is when this plan is designed to start."

The next general election is set to take place in March 2025 at the latest, though many political analysts say it is likely to be called before then. Asked about fact the plan is only set to take effect around that point, Mr Bakhurst said for that reason he had also discussed it with opposition parties.

He said his view was Sinn Féin is "also committed to the future of public service media and public service broadcasting in Ireland."

"I'm hoping this will be resolved one way or the other, whoever is in government," he added.

Mr Bakhurst said that while Sinn Féin "may well try and fund public service media in different way", the party has told him it recognises the importance of the broadcaster.

"They've also said to me that they are very much recognise the role and importance of, of TV and public service media in Ireland.

"I've had discussions with them about the future funding of it. And they also recognize it needs a new funding model," Mr Bakhurst told Prime Time's Sarah McInerney.

Asked whether he was concerned the independence of RTÉ could be impacted by the perilous state of its finances and requirement to meet conditions laid down by government in order to access funding, Mr Bakhurst said "no, I would fiercely guard our independence and I would never agree to that."

"That is probably my primary concern in this role - to safeguard the independence of RTÉ, and it doesn't matter who's in government," he said.