The Government has given the commission investigating the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings an extra 11 weeks to produce a final report on alleged inadequacies of the Garda investigation conducted at the time.
The Cabinet agreed to the extension of time yesterday after the commission, chaired by its sole member, barrister Patrick MacEntee SC, asked for a "further short period of time" to complete its work.
The initial deadline for the report passed just over a week ago on November 14th, but the Cabinet agreed yesterday to change this to January 31st.
In an interim report to the Government yesterday, the commission said it had further evidence to take from some individuals and further documents to inspect.
In addition, the Garda Commissioner had, at the request of the commission, "invoked certain procedures uniquely available to him in an attempt to obtain for the commission disclosure of documentation relevant to this investigation that is at present unavailable to the commission".
This documentation may be outside the Republic of Ireland, the report says.
"The commission is satisfied that a further period of time is required to facilitate the operation of these procedures," the report says. In addition some victims of the bombings had come forward to help the commission, and some time was needed to allow it to provide further material and complete "certain investigative steps" as a result of disclosures made by these victims.
Finally, the commission had asked the British government that it be allowed to meet certain personnel and to see certain documents. A response was awaited and "the commission considers that a further reasonable period of time should be afforded to facilitate the United Kingdom government consideration of this request".
The Government announced last April that it was setting up the commission to obtain a quick report into alleged inadequacies in the Garda investigation.
The matters to be investigated include the reason the investigation was discontinued at what the families of victims say was a very early stage, and the reason specific leads were not followed up.
This is the first commission of investigation established under legislation passed last year to introduce faster inquiries into matters of public concern.
The legislation came after criticism of tribunals for taking years to inquire into matters of public controversy and for expending vast sums on legal bills.