Ms Geraldine Tallon:

This is happening in real time. It is active. We went to the local authorities in the past week when we knew the outcome of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's review of the first batch of allowances. As I stated, we recently referred 52 local allowances. We wrote to the local authorities last week indicating that for the balance which we were not forwarding, negotiations or discussions should begin with staff representatives with a view to determining what approach should now be taken. We have given the local authorities until 9 November for local authority management to open discussions with staff representatives on the approach to be taken.