Church and Government sources have vigorously contested reports that their agreement to compensate people who were abused in institutions run by religious orders is unravelling.
Amid continuing controversy over the manner in which Catholic church authorities dealt with priests and other religious who abused children, the Conference of Religious in Ireland (CORI) has denied Sunday newspaper reports of disagreement between it and the State over the contribution by religious orders to the scheme.
Sister Elizabeth Maxwell said yesterday she was "not aware of any disagreement" with the State over the terms of the €128 million deal agreed last January.
The figure includes a cash payment of €38 million, €10 million of which is to go towards the provision of counselling and record retrieval services and property transfers totalling €80 million.
CORI has set up a steering committee to implement the agreement, which is not in writing.
It is understood that the outstanding cash payment has already been collected from the relevant 18 orders which were involved in the institutions and is ready for transfer to the State. (There are 150 religious congregations affiliated to CORI)
Some property has already been transferred to the State by the congregations, and other property has been identified for transfer. Of the €80 million worth of property to be transferred, it is understood just €30 million is outstanding.
The Government vigorously denied it is preparing to underwrite compensation bills for abuse suffered by pupils in religious institutions in ordinary schools.
"The offer we made was a generous one. I can't see any way it will made more so," said a Government source.
"There has not been any discussion about it. It isn't a runner. The original offer was criticised for being too generous," he said.
Examples of transfers already made by church authorities include three acres at Merrion in Dublin, valued at €8.89 million and which the Sisters of Charity have donated to the local authority for social housing.
The Religious Sisters of Charity have donated St Anne's School at Milltown in Dublin to the St Vincent de Paul society for housing. It was valued at €2.67 million.
Seven acres at Tuam, Co Galway, valued at €3.43 million, were also given to the local authority there for social housing,
The Sisters of Mercy donated their convent at Cork Street in Dublin for social housing, at a value of €7.62 million while the Rosminian Order has donated Ferry House at Clonmel, Co Tipperary, to the State.
In Blackrock, Co Dublin, the Daughters of Charity donated property at Temple Hill worth €3.05 million to the local authority for Traveller accommodation. It is valued at €3.05 million.
In Dublin's Dolphin's Barn the Christian Brothers have donated a youth centre to the State while in north Co Dublin they have donated a drug detox centre. The orders have also donated lands to schools in Wexford, Meath, Monaghan, and Dublin.