I thank the Chair for affording me the opportunity of raising this important issue. The impending industrial action, the withdrawal of labour earmarked for 27 May, has regrettably been found necessary given the failure of the Eastern Health Board to implement the recommendations of the Labour Court. Up to 100 employees working in 20 affiliated day care centres located mainly in Dublin city are affected.
Each centre is staffed by a manager and up to five pre-school child care workers or assistants. The Eastern Health Board is the main funding agency, providing up to 90 per cent of expenditure in each centre. The centres are situated in socially deprived or underprivileged areas and cater for the needs of children deemed to be at risk, the majority of whom are in the age group of two and a half to five years and are referred through specialists, referral groups, social workers, public health nurses, speech therapists and other professionals involved in child care. The criteria for referral include suspected child abuse and drug abuse by either parent. It has been acknowledged by all that these centres have been hugely successful and enabled children to grow in confidence and lead a normal life.
Ministers have paid lip service to the need for proper child care facilities. They should recognise the achievements and role played by the staff of these centres by paying them a proper rate for the job they are doing. They have not secured a pay increase in ten years. In negotiations they have failed to secure the support of the Minister for Finance and the Eastern Health Board. Any other group would justifiably have gone on strike years ago. How many other groups have gone ten years without a salary increase? Is it any wonder that the morale of the staff is low, although they realise the invaluable service they provide for the children, families and communities with which they work.
The Minister has a responsibility to ensure, by whatever means necessary, the implementation of the meagre recommendations of the Labour Court. I do not want him to wash his hands of the matter like Pontius Pilate and transfer responsibility to the Eastern Health Board. That will not help to resolve the issue. In relation to nursery care workers, the Labour Court recommended that, from 1 January 1997, claimants in this grade be paid the same as the early start workers, i.e. grade 2 and assimilation to grade 3 when it is applicable. The IPC report suggests that nursery managers be paid two grades above the nursery care workers. The Labour Court went on to say it was not fully satisfied with these recommendations because they were not strong enough.
We must come to an agreement with these people before 27 May. They are doing a fantastic job but they are being left behind. Let us not pass the buck. The Department and the Eastern Health Board should come to an agreement with these people who justifiably deserve an increase. The money was found for many other matters and we, as politicians, should see that the money is found for this increase also.
