Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
248. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will make the necessary funding available for the implementation of the Workplace Relations Commission agreement of August 2019 between a union (details supplied) and city and county childcare committees involving CCC managers being regraded at local authority grade 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40793/20]
View answer250. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his Department will make the necessary funding available for the implementation of the Workplace Relations Commission agreement of August 2019 between a union (details supplied) and city and county childcare committees. [40904/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 250 together.
Officials of my Department are currently reviewing the Workplace Relations Commission's consideration of the pay rates of the managers of the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs).
The CCCs are one of the key support mechanisms of my Department, and I want to acknowledge the important role they play in providing vital support and guidance to early learning and care and school age childcare providers, and to parents. CCCs act as the local agent of my Department in the coordination and delivery of the national early education and childcare programmes and the implementation of Government policy at a local level, and in facilitating and supporting the development of quality, accessible ELC and SAC services for the overall benefit of children and their parents.
In 2005 the Minister for Finance sanctioned the rates payable to CCC managers as comparable tothe rates applicable in the Local Authorities for Grade 6. Officials from my Department have been engaging with representatives from the CCCs, including both manager and Board of Management representatives, in relation to a proposal for a review of the grading of CCC managers.
Officials from my Department will continue to engage with all parties on this matter as appropriate. It is important to note in this regard that although my Department provides annual funding to the CCCs in respect of all areas of expenditure, including salaries, it is not the employer of CCC staff, and these staff are not pubic sector employees.
