Talks are to take place today aimed at averting a strike by secondary school teachers later this week.

Thursdays action will be the first of 7 days of strike scheduled to take place over the next month.

Around 500 schools will be forced to close as a result.

Members of the ASTI will meet with the Department of Education today in a effort to resolve their row over pay for new entrants.

Meanwhile, Gardai in the GRA and the AGSI are planning four days of action next month, while members of the AGSI who refused to operate the PULSE Garda computer system last Friday will also withdraw from administration duties this Friday.