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Childcare Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Questions (604, 629)

Peter Burke

Question:

604. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide funding to implement the recommendation from the Workplace Relations Commission to upgrade the pay scale of county childcare managers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1169/21]

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Peter Burke

Question:

629. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of progress relating to the implementation of the recommendation from the Workplace Relations Commission to amend the pay scale for county childcare managers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1170/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 629 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 to the 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. A submission has recently been received from a CCC Board of Management on this issue and is being reviewed. 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 the staff are not public sector employees.

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