In 1997, the Labour Court recommended Grade 2 pay for nursery care workers, with assimilation to Grade 3 when applicable, and Grade 4 pay for nursery managers. The recommendation was signed on 22 October 1997. The Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union had sought pay parity with Early Start staff for about 100 care workers and 20 managers. It relied on an I.P.C. report that found the care workers’ work at least equivalent to that of Early Start workers and assessed the managers’ work at a higher grade. The Day Care Nursery Management Committee said the claim was unrealistic and funds were unavailable. The Court recommended that the care workers receive the Early Start rate from 1 January 1997, then Grade 2, with assimilation to Grade 3 if applicable. It also recommended Grade 4 pay for managers from that date and a joint union-management review of whether they should be placed on Grade 5.