Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has said that the subvention of up to €36m for CIÉ "is still available this year".
However, he insisted that he cannot "hand over taxpayers' money" unless CIÉ tables a package with measures including "new credit facilities, disposal of some assets and an agreement with bus unions to changes in terms and conditions".
He added that there has been very little progress on these matters since the summer.
In July, the Cabinet authorised the Department of Transport to allocate an extra €36m to CIÉ immediately to protect public transport services.
CIÉ's constituent companies Irish Rail, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus have all been hit by falling passenger numbers and rising fuel costs.
