New CEO of Longford's St Christopher's Services hopeful of ending dispute

The new CEO of St Christopher's Services, Declan Kenny has stated he is hopeful his previous experience of 'recalibrating the culture' in the banking sector and engagement with all of the stakeholders can lead to a resolution of the dispute there as quickly as possible.

Over 130 Fórsa union members began work-to-rule action on November 18 over the non-payment of increments promised under a previous 2021 Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) pay agreement.

It is understood staff members received a letter from management last week which outlined that they remained “fully committed” towards finding a solution.

Mr Kenny, an Ardagh native who commenced his new role last Thursday, replaces interim CEO Marian Keigher who replaced

Derek Scanlon after he stepped down last April.

"It's a privilege. I'm serving as the CEO in the role to help St Christopher's in its mission to look after and support people living with intellectual disabilities in Longford and I'm very proud and humble to be here," he said. "The intention is there from me, the management team and others is to engage with all stakeholders and find a resolution to the dispute as quickly as possible."

Mr Kenny stated he was reluctant to speak about the financial and industrial situation or specifics about who is meeting who as he is 'getting a handle on them' still himself.

"Dialogue is ongoing and will be ongoing with all stakeholders," he added.

Mr Kenny referred to the meeting between Taoiseach Simon Harris and disability care worker Charlotte Fallon in Kanturk, Co Cork last Friday.

"That has shone a spotlight on Section 39 services countrywide," he said. "The issues affecting St Christopher's are not unique to St Christopher's, they are common to many of the 1,100 Section 39 other bodies across the country."

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The former Ardagh GAA chairperson stated he will work hard to get this resolved but one change is urgently needed or he fears there may be similar issues in two or three years time.

"In the strategic and long-term what is required to resolve this from being an issue and in (relation to) other Section 39's and nationally is that they are all brought under the umbrella of the public service national pay agreement, that is vital," he said. "I am looking to our local representatives, whoever they are after next week that they support St Christopher's and are a voice for St Christopher's and other Section 39s around the Midlands to get pay parity with other Section 38 facilities."

Mr Kenny outlined his first priority in the short term is getting a handle on the financial issues surrounding St Christopher's.
"I want to work with everybody be that the unions, the HSE, all stakeholders, management, the board, local representatives, obviously the staff themselves," he said. "We all need to step forward together. Everybody values what we do at St Christopher's, everybody wants to find the solution, it's how we find it is the key."

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Mr Kenny insisted his role and the objective of St Christopher's is focused on supporting people who have intellectual disabilities to live as full and joyful and as precious a life as possible.

"We are here to support them and their families so that they can live their lives to their full potential," he said. "I get this role, I get why St Christopher's is here, that's my North Star."

Vow to work hard and background

Mr Kenny stated when he started last week he was delighted to meet the management team and the 'great' staff members.

"The second thing I wanted to do was meet the service users," he said. "I started on Thursday morning and on Thursday afternoon I went out and I met several service users working in the Men's Shed, working in the Solas unit and you want to see the kind of things they are doing in terms of making Christmas decorations and making Christmas cribs, they are so happy and joyful and leading full, rich lives supported by St Christopher's."

Mr Kenny said he worked for 34 years at Ulster Bank and the first half of his career was customer facing and dealing with customers directly.

Mr Kenny has stated he has previous experience 'helping recalibrate the culture during his 34 years working with Ulster Bank.

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"After the crash and the dysfunctional behaviour in the banking sector I was given a role, because I was working at the coalface before that, in terms of helping recalibrate the culture at Ulster Bank and helping management and staff to find their North Star. Why are we here?,” he said. "I used to say in the bank, 'There is a customer at the end of this process, how does this help the customer? The comparison for me is whatever we are doing in St Christopher's and when we are making changes and whatever we are doing going forward my North Star if it was the customer in the bank it will be the service user at St Christopher's."

"In that way the comparison I draw is, 'I used to say in the bank, 'There is a customer at the end of this process, how does this help the customer?

Mr Kenny said the service users and their families are the priority.