Last minute talks at the Labour Court are continuing in an attempt to avert planned strike action tomorrow by 4,500 residential carers.
Chairman of the Labour Court, Mr Finbarr Flood, invited representatives of IMPACT and SIPTU to attend a hearing this afternoon.
Mr Kieran Mulvey, the chief executive of the Commission said the talks were in crisis.
``Throughout the day we have been trying to see if there is any room for compromise between the two parties.
``It is disappointing but I would have to say at this stage the position of the parties is as far apart as they were when the negotiations began at the start of the week.
``In light of the category of individuals involved in this dispute, who are among the most vulnerable in our society, the services of the commission are available again tomorrow.``
The national dispute concerns pay increases of up to 44 per cent awarded to childcare workers in April 2001.
IMPACT and SIPTU who represent carers in residential homes for the intellectually disabled say their members perform identical work to those childcare workers.
The unions - who are negotiating separately - claim the two group share common educational qualifications.
However the Health Service Employers Agency insist that processing the claim on behalf of residential carers was being dealt with separately under the benchmarking process.
If the negotiations fail hundreds of residents will be returned to their families.
List of facilities under strike notice: St John of God (all Dublin services)
St Michael's House, Dublin.
Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul (all Dublin services).
Stewart's Hospital, Dublin.
Cheeverstown, Dublin.
Brothers of Charity services (Galway).
Galway County Association for Mentally Handicapped Children.
Brothers of Charity Services in Cork, Waterford and the south-east region.
Co Wicklow Association for the Mentally Handicapped.
Daughters of Charity, Lisnagry Co Limerick.
Moyregan House autistic residential unit, Athboy.
St Raphael's Hospital, Youghal, Co Cork.
COPE Foundation, Cork.