Calls for hotline for concerned parents
Fine Gael’s children’s spokesman Alan Shatter told Newstalk 106 he believes parents are reluctant to raise the alarm for fear their child will be victimised by childcare workers.
“On occasions parents have found their children being put out of crèche and the problems not being addressed. So what I think we need is a charter to protect parents in those circumstances.
“The HSE has a regulatory function in relation to crèche but there is no one central place for the making of complaints at the moment,” he said.
Mr Shatter was among a number of politicians and interest groups responding to the Irish Examiner’s publication of complaints made against childcare facilities.
His Labour Party colleague, Senator Alex White, said the reports were “shocking” and showed the need for more stringent regulation.
“The litany of complaints makes for grim reading for any parent and range from children being locked in a room for being bold to children being left in soiled nappies for hours and another being given medication without the parents’ consent.
“While there is no question the majority of childcare facilities around the country are providing a good service the reports show that some should not be open for business.”
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said the sector was suffering because there was a lack of qualified staff.
A statement called on all parents to be vigilant in assessing paper work and records held by crèche before they leave their children in care.
“Those providing the service need to be properly qualified and what it can come down to is whether the person minding your child is actually trained to do so,” said spokeswoman Joanna Fortune. Responding to the calls, Mr Smith said that he while was committed to raising standards, he did not propose putting in place any radical new safeguards.
He said the sector would instead receive added protection from regulations for childcare facilities which came into effect in September.
“It is acknowledged that many childcare staff have a qualification or are working towards achieving one.
“In centre-based services, it is considered that the person in charge should aim to have at least 50% of childcare staff with a qualification appropriate to the care and development of children,” he said.
Mr Shatter said the minister’s comments did little to reassure parents who leave their children with crèche and preschools.
“It’s not a question what the minister has to say, it’s a question of what action is going to be taken by the Government to provide, not just proper regulation in this area, but proper inspectorate services and supervision,” he said.
