Gardaí have begun a criminal investigation into the alleged physical abuse of children which featured in Tuesday’s Prime Time documentary on creches.

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald has described the mistreatment of children uncovered at three creches for an RTÉ documentary as emotional abuse.

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.

The Prime Time Investigates documentary on creches, 'A Breach of Trust', is to be broadcast tonight.

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.

An exclusive creche probed during an undercover investigation into allegations of mistreatment of children has confirmed it has sacked one worker and suspended three others.