The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has admitted Ireland will miss the target of getting some of its banking costs back by next June.
Mr Kenny says it will be at least November next year before other EU countries might be ready to approve a payment to Ireland.
Ireland is hoping to recoup some of the billions it spent saving AIB and Bank of Ireland, under a system which has now been replaced for future bailouts.
The Taoiseach says European talks are complicated, but he is still optimistic about Ireland's chances.