DUP leader Peter Robinson faces fresh pressure to agree a deal on devolving policing and justice powers to Stormont after US secretary of state Hillary Clinton backed the move.
Mrs Clinton held private talks in Belfast with Mr Robinson and with Sinn Fein, which wants a swift transfer of the powers that would see unionists and republicans share responsibility for Northern Ireland's justice system.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been involved in intense negotiations to resolve the devolution issue and on Monday he handed the DUP and Sinn Fein a document detailing his financial blueprint for the process.
A proposal on funding the devolution of policing and justice has been made by the Prime Minister to the DUP and Sinn Fein.
The DUP said it was encouraged that the issues it raised were being addressed.
In a further development, a Sinn Fein source said media progress had been made in the negotiations with Mr Brown.
The Prime Minister is understood to have presented both the DUP and Sinn Fein with a document detailing his final financial offer for the devolution of policing and justice powers.
The Republican source claimed that the police and court service financial requirements had now been met.
He added that a Government commitment was now in place to fund a new police training college in Cookstown.
In addition, four military sites are to be passed to the Assembly, including a former base at Omagh where there are plans to construct a cross-community schools campus.
The Sinn Fein source said the party's objective in the negotiations had been to agree a financial package that funded policing and justice but that also protected the finances available for other areas of government, including health and education.
The Republican source said: "The figures agreed in Downing Street on Thursday night and contained in the letter received today reflect this."
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has already said he will ask his party to endorse the deal, a move which could place further pressure on the DUP.
© Press Association