Crèche inspections - State failing to protect our children

TODAY’S revelation that some 1,500 creches across the country went unchecked because of a chronic shortage of inspection staff is a damning indictment of the State’s failure to protect thousands of children.

This deplorable scenario has come to light despite laws that require crèches to be inspected at least once every year.

As in many other areas of life in Ireland, the system has broken down because a Government, which splurged millions in taxpayers’ money on failed schemes, did not employ the staff needed to enforce vital regulations.