Unions at the Avonmore/Waterford Group will hold a special meeting on October 21st in Portlaoise to discuss with their members the voluntary redundancy terms being offered by the company. Earlier this week, unions at the company rejected an offer of five weeks pay per year of service, plus statutory entitlements, saying it was "wide of the mark".

While neither side would comment yesterday, it is understood the company has made an advance on this offer, most likely six weeks pay per year of service.

The meeting of the unions - among them SIPTU, the ATGWU, the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union and the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union - will decide on the company's offer. The issue of how many redundancies there might be has yet to be addressed substantially during the discussions. Between now and the Portlaoise meeting, discussions will be "on going", but sources suggest the company is unlikely to make any more enhanced offers.

A spokesman for the unions said he did not want to comment on any offer until union members were fully informed.

Sources in Avonmore/Waterford Group say the company is anxious to make sure all redundancies are voluntary and is looking for a package which will achieve this.