Minister pledges more robust inspection regime for pre-schools

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald has pledged to introduce a stronger inspection regime for creches and preschools. This follows RTÉ's Prime Time documentary featuring footage of children being subjected to what the Minister described as "emotional abuse" and "absolutely unacceptable" treatment.

Ms Fitzgerald said reforms to the HSE’s inspection regime would feature a registration system, similar to that in place for nursing homes, that would allow authorities to shut down substandard operators.

At present, any operator can set up a childcare facility and inform health authorities after it has been opened.

The inspection system will place more emphasis on monitoring of children and management of services, she said.

“It’s about ensuring we have a more robust inspection system . . . they will need to register. Issues such as management, monitoring, training will all need to be examined and implemented.”

The Minister also said inspectors were being recruited by the HSE for parts of the country where there were no inspectors, while inspection reports would be available online “within a couple of weeks”.

Nationally, about 55 per cent of creches and preschools were inspected last year, despite regulations recommending that facilities be inspected annually.

In some areas such as Kildare and Dublin the inspection rate annually was just 35 per cent.

Annie Callinan, the HSE's head of quality assurance, said the service could do much better in the way it carried out inspections and said a more robust system was being planned.

She said the changes would be introduced later this year. However, she was unable to say what kind of resources or changes would be required until after a review was completed.

The HSE has defended its inspection regime on the basis that most creches typically receive a visit from an inspector on average every 18 to 24 months.

“This compares favourably with other jurisdictions where visits take place, in the UK for example, every three to four years,” it said in a statement.

The three creches featured on Prime Time said they had either suspended some staff members or had begun internal investigations. Garda and HSE investigations into the incidents are under way.

The centres involved are Links Childcare in Malahide, Dublin; Giraffe in Belarmine, Stepaside, Dublin; and Little Harvard in Rathnew, Co Wicklow.

Links Childcare said yesterday it was working to provide real-time video monitoring of its facilities, subject to parental consent. In a statement it said it was looking at providing access to the CCTV system through a smartphone app.

Giraffe said it was “profoundly sorry” for the distress caused to parents and children. One staff member had been suspended and the company’s practices had been reviewed, it said, to include the installation of CCTV throughout all centres, increased training for all staff in child protection and managing children’s behaviour, and a reassessment of risk management procedures.

Little Harvard said it was taking all steps necessary to ensure that “these shortcomings are not repeated” and would continue to investigate the incidents and review all options to improve services at the creche.

Early Childhood Ireland, the main representative group for creches and preschool providers, said there were no excuses to justify the poor practice at the three creches.

“Our thoughts go out to the children and parents directly affected but also to the thousands of childcare professionals across the country who deliver great experiences for children every day.”