asked the Minister for Education the steps he is taking to resolve the dispute involving technicians in the NIHE, Limerick.

I would refer the Deputy to the statement which I made in the House on 31 January 1978, out-lining the facts in this case, Question No. 385.

There have been two full hearings of the claim by the Labour Court. On each occasion, the Court did not recommend concession of the claim.

The technician group have refused to accept the court's recommendations and have taken industrial action. The institute have referred the case to the Steering Committee of the Employer/ Labour Conference for their advice.

The general situation in such circumstances is that pending a response from the steering committee, there is no action open to the employers' side.

I did, however, make special arrangements for representatives of the technician group in the hope of improving things to meet informally with officers of my Department so that the position could be fully explained to them.

Has that meeting actually taken place? If it has taken place was the Minister encouraged by the business transacted at this meeting?

I can assure the Deputy that the meeting has already taken place and we have achieved what I set out in my reply at that meeting.