114 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Education if she will give details of the background to the strike action by Youthreach workers and the failure to reach an appropriate resolution to their six year old pay claim; and the action, if any, she intends to take to avert the short and long-term damage to disadvantaged areas consequent upon the threatened industrial action. [23673/96]

118 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Education if she will make a statement on the industrial action being taken by the Youthreach teachers; and whether she will respond to the reasonable case put forward. [23687/96]

152 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education whether she intends to provide proper funding for teachers working in Youthreach centres. [23944/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 118 and 152 together.

Negotiations are ongoing between my Department and the union representing instruction staff in the Youthreach programme. Facilitation and arbitration under the terms of the Government/ICTU Programme for Competitiveness and Work statement of 15 May 1996 has been offered. The union is considering this offer and will be responding shortly.