A director of one of the three creches featured in an RTÉ Prime Time exposé has challenged reports that parents are planning to sue.

The long-awaited RTÉ documentary on standards in Irish creches saw children spending up to two hours a day being strapped into highchairs as they screamed to get out.

Childcare organisations are calling on the Government to fund improved training of childcare staff as they try to dampen down a “crisis of confidence” created by revelations about substandard practice at three Dublin creches.

The Tánaiste has said allegations of children being mishandled and yelled at by staff at three Dublin creches will be given “highest priority”.

The Government is deeply concerned over allegations of mistreatment of children at a number of creches, the Tánaiste has said.