Hospitals and schools are set to be disrupted once again as public sector unions confirmed a second day of strike action next week.

Last month, more than 300,000 public sector workers walked off the job in the biggest national strike in nearly 20 years.

The action brought widespread disruption to schools, hospitals and public services nationwide.

The industrial action comes as workers fume over delays in agreeing a new pay deal with the Government.

A second day of strike action was set to take place last month, but was cancelled. It is now set to go ahead on Thursday, November 12.

The action was confirmed on Monday by the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

The organisation found that the government had not made a credible offer to resolve the ongoing dispute.

The industrial action takes place on Thursday, November 12 – the same day as the first of two meetings of European leaders in Dublin.

A statement from the INTO (Irish National Teachers’ Organisations) confirmed that they had been advised to partake in the strike action on Thursday, November 12.

Fellow teachers union, ASTI (Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland) also confirmed they would be following the strike action next week.

They said: ‘ASTI Standing Committee held an emergency meeting this afternoon (2nd) and voted unanimously to sanction a second day of strike action in their pursuit of a credible public service pay deal.’

The strike action will mean the majority of schools across the country will be closed, while hospitals will see disruptions also.

As part of last month’s action, non-urgent appointments, outpatient clinics and elective procedures were all cancelled.

Those with appointments for next Thursday are urged to ring ahead, and not to assume it will go ahead.