The Irish Haemophilia Society (IHS) is expected to respond by tomorrow to a Government offer to pay two thirds of their legal costs at the inquiry into how its members became infected with HIV.
The offer was made at a meeting last Friday between the IHS and representatives of the Department of Health and the Attorney General's Office.
A Department of Health spokesman yesterday confirmed an offer had been made but would not say how much it was.
Reliable sources have confirmed it amounts to two thirds of the legal costs of IHS members, to be paid on a monthly basis.
A response from the IHS is expected today or tomorrow. The tribunal is due to start in mid-January.
The IHS applied unsuccessfully to the Haemophilia Infection Inquiry 10 days ago to have its costs covered from the outset of the inquiry.
However, the chairwoman of the inquiry Judge Alison Lindsay said she could not award the society costs until the tribunal had concluded.
However, the Department of Health said last week the Minister was willing to consider the issue of funding the society at public sittings of the tribunal.
The inquiry is investigating how 260 people with haemophilia became infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products. Of these, 62 have died.
The IHS is also seeking to have infected persons' evidence heard first, as some are seriously ill and could have died or become too ill to give evidence before the tribunal ends.
Judge Lindsay said last week she would consider favourably applications to have evidence of victims taken at any time, and said such witnesses would be treated with sensitivity.