Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 5

Written Answers. - Civil Service Crèche.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

234 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the funding his Department provides for the civil service crèche, Mount Street, Dublin 2; the involvement his Department has in the operation or management of the crèche; if his attention has been drawn to the serious problems created by public servants by the recent closure of the crèche; the steps his Department is taking to secure the reopening of the crèche, particularly having regard to the needs of working parents in the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25414/00]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The Deputy's question raises four separate points, which I will answer in turn: The Government provides the premises for the Mount Street crèche free of charge. It also meets the cost of heat, light and the telephone service. Other running costs are met from fees paid by parents. As neither the Government nor the Civil Service crèche co-operative were given full financial information by the previous crèche operator, figures are not available to show the precise value of this subsidy. However, it will be clear that the provision of free premises is, on its own, a very substantial benefit for the crèche given the cost of accommodation in Dublin.

The funding of the crèche is in line with the policy on work place crèches set out in national agreements. Under this policy, the employer covers the capital costs of the crèche, and, as a result, the fees paid by parents are generally less than those charged in other crèches.

The Mount Street crèche is operated by the Civil Service Crèche Co-operative. The board of the co-operative is made up of representatives of the main civil service unions. The co-operative decided to engage managers, under licence agreements, to provide child care in Mount Street. The Government has no direct involvement in the actual operation of the crèche. However, in view of the importance of child care provision, my Department and the co-operative have always worked very closely together. This co-operation has been all the greater since the temporary closure of the crèche.

I can assure the Deputy that I am very aware of the problems faced by parents as a result of the temporary closure of the crèche. For most parents, the provision of good child care is essential in order to allow them to work. I know that many parents in the crèche have been forced to make other arrangements and that some have had to take special leave. I am determined that this situation will not continue for very long.

Re-opening the crèche requires two things: (a) engagement by the co-operative of a new manager and (b) the refurbishment and re-equipping of the crèche:

(a) following its decision not to continue the previous manager's licence, the co-operative sought another manager to operate the creche. A new manager has now been identified. I understand that discussions between the co-operative and the manager are nearly completed. My Department has been kept fully informed about the discussions. I have approved the proposed financial arrangements between the co-operative and the new operator which may involve public funds.

(b) the Eastern Health Board inspected the Mount Street crèche after its closure. The inspection showed that the premises did not meet mandatory child care standards. I approved a proposal to allow the Office of Public Works to carry out the refurbishment as a matter of urgency. I understand that this work was completed by the contractor last week, allowing the re-equipment of the crèche to be undertaken.

I understand that the co-operative hopes to be able to re-open the crèche very shortly.

Finally, the Deputy should be aware that my Department and the relevant unions have begun discussions on possible new longer-term management arrangements for the Mount Street crèche and any other civil service crèches which may be opened in future.