Psychologist: Childcare industry needs graduates to prevent abuse

A Garda investigation is continuing into the alleged physical abuse of children at three creches in Dublin and Wicklow.

It was launched after the parents of the children involved in the Prime Time programme contacted Gardaí, after viewing the footage.

Political parties have already pledged to work together to ensure the speedy passage of new legislation aimed at improving childcare standards.

Caitriona O'Toole, a psychologist at NUI Maynooth, says improving the regulation of the industry is not enough.

She said: "We need a graduate workforce, educated to degree level and above.

"If we're going to have that, we're going to have higher costs and parents cannot pay more, they are already paying the highest premiums in the world, so we do need to move to much more State investment in early childcare education."