Final deal is in sight for social partnership talks

SOCIAL partnership talks are finally expected to conclude this weekend after the longest and most testing set of negotiations.

Although final negotiations were continuing at Government buildings yesterday, it is widely anticipated that the weekend will see a final deal emerge after more than six months of tense stop-start talks.

With the central issue of pay concluded last week, the social and voluntary groups are considering proposals for the non-pay elements of the deal, including housing, social welfare rates and health care.