Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 4

Written Answers. - Child Care Workers.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

150 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will outline his intentions in relation to complying with the Labour Court recommendations No. LCR 15671 covering pay rates for staff and management in day nurseries in view of the importance of early intervention and prevention in child care work; the cost of implementing this recommendation in relation to current year pay and back pay to January 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4307/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

As I outlined to the House on 3 Febuary last in relation to this issue, additional funding has not been provided for within the Estimates. The implementation of the award is a matter for the management of the day nurseries in the first instance and is the subject of ongoing discussions between the management of the nurseries, the Eastern Health Board, the Health Service Employer's Agency and the trade union IMPACT. The full cost of implementing the court's finding will only be available when these discussions have been finalised.

It is a matter for health boards to determine specific funding arrangements for voluntary agencies supported via the section 65 mechanism. The Eastern Health Board will have to consider the full cost implications, when these emerge, in the context of its overall funding of child care services within the board. As discussions are ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.