THE survival of the Progressive Democrats may hinge on a series of crucial meetings, with September now accepted to be 'make or break' month for the party.

Well placed sources played down rumours currently circulating within the party suggesting the imminent defection, to Fianna Fáil, of Galway West TD Noel Grealish, stating that "as of now" Grealish was not leaving.

There are fears in the PDs that the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party think-in next month in Galway could be used to unveil Grealish as a new Fianna Fáil TD.

However, while Grealish and PD councillors in Galway have received a number of approaches, sources do not believe there is a likelihood of him joining up by the FF get-together, although they do not entirely rule it out.

Party leader Ciaran Cannon is currently away on holidays but he is expected to meet the party's six Galway councillors, and possibly Grealish, on his return. That meeting, along with an expected meeting before the Dáil resumes, of the four members of the parliamentary party – Cannon, Grealish, Mary Harney and Fiona O'Malley – will go a long way towards deciding the party's future.

While some members want the PDs to voluntarily wind up, other party activists – including many councillors – want it to continue. However, one key party figure told the Sunday Tribune this weekend that although he would like the PDs to continue, "it's getting difficult", adding: "September is crucial."

The belief in the PDs is that it's a question of when, not if, Grealish joins Fianna Fáil. "The feeling in the party is that he's going," said one PD figure. There is also a view that Fiona O'Malley could have a future in Fianna Fáil.