Calls for hotline for concerned parents

CHILDREN’S Minister Brendan Smith has been called upon to set up a whistle-blowers’ hotline for parents who are concerned about rogue childcare facilities.

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.