Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I advise the Deputy that I have been engaged in discussions, as have senior officials on my behalf, at senior level with the Department of Finance in examining a methodology by which we can provide such limited alleviation. My judgment is that we will be able to bring the matter to finality very soon. I have returned to the Department on a number of issues regarding its consideration of sanction. I want to obtain from the Department what is reasonable and fair. I had thought that the matter would have been concluded last week when I got a response from the Department, but I have reverted to it on a number of issues that I want to have addressed. Hopefully we will have the matter resolved in the next number of days.

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