Dept of Finance 'hoping' Troika will agree to loan extension

The Department of Finance says it is hoping that the Troika will agree to a lengthy extension of the repayment date for Ireland's bailout loans.

Department officials have been briefing the Public Accounts Committee on the negotiations involving EU finance ministers and the Troika.

EU countries have agreed to do a deal to help make Ireland's debt more sustainable, by extending the maturities on the government's loans.

However the deal has still not been finalised.