THE Green Party is set to be offered a new super-junior ministerial position as part of the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will face down demands from the Greens for a second junior ministry to go with its current number of two cabinet and one junior positions.

As a compromise, the existing junior position may be elevated to super-junior, allowing the holder of the office to sit at cabinet.

The issue of whether John Gormley will remain as environment minister or be replaced by backbencher Ciaran Cuffe has yet to be resolved. The signals coming from the Greens is there is a realisation that, whatever deal was in place in 2007, the leader of the party should maintain a place at the cabinet table.

"It's going to be a difficult few days," said a source.

Mary White is regarded as a certainty to take over from Trevor Sargent as a junior minister. The Green Party is continuing to press for the appointment of a second junior minister as part, it says, of an agreement it reached with Bertie Ahern three years ago.

However, Fianna Fáil sources say that deal was put in place at a time when there were 20 junior ministers appointed. After the reduction to 15 – driven in no small measure by the Greens – it is no longer relevant.

The Greens counter that at the time the deal was reached, it had understood there would be 17 junior ministers and it was Bertie Ahern who unilaterally appointed an extra three juniors.

But Fianna Fáil figures say the party rank and file would not tolerate the Greens getting an extra junior.

The most likely compromise is that White's new role will be that of super-junior, allowing her to sit at cabinet.

Both sides dismiss reports that this super-junior position could encompass responsibility for public sector reform.

The Green party is not interested in this role which people in the party regard as a poisoned chalice.

There is growing speculation that Taoiseach Brian Cowen will embark on a wider reshuffle than had been expected.

"He needs a fresh look on this team," one source said. Other well-placed sources are predicting as many as four new faces at cabinet, which would suggest that Willie O'Dea and Martin Cullen will not be the only ministers exiting.

If that is the case Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs minister Éamon Ó Cuív is seen as a potential casualty but others believe geographical considerations will see him safe.