A concerned mum of a boy who attended a Dublin crèche that featured in Wednesday night's shocking RTE Prime Time Investigates documentary says that her son had trouble sleeping while in their .
The programme looked into standards of care in the Hyde and Seek childcare creche chain who have four premises across Dublin city.
The report showed how the children were handled roughly with babies being restrained for long periods while in the care.
Dublin Live reports that a mother whose son was in the care of Hyde and Seek said that she automatically noticed a negative difference in her child.
Moran Yitshak Aikalay said: "He became not that confident. One of the symptoms I saw was that he did not want to go to sleep.
"He would get upset and nervous [at bedtime]. He was full of anxiety."
Devastated to learn of the failings in care the family, who had moved from Israel last year, removed the children from the facility.
The mother added: "They broke my trust. I care about my son. Maybe if I heard a mom talking like I am talking now, maybe I would have listened to my thoughts and do something because I felt something was wrong. I felt my son's behaviour change."
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone told Morning Ireland that she was "deeply shocked and appalled to see the children being treated this way".
She added: "I plead with parents to listen to their gut [if they feel something is wrong] and to contact Tulsa if needed.
"Of course that boy has difficulty sleeping when you watch what was going on in that programme."
"He would get upset and nervous [at bedtime]. He was full of anxiety."
Devastated to learn of the failings in care the family, who had moved from Israel last year, removed the children from the facility.
The mother added: "They broke my trust. I care about my son. Maybe if I heard a mom talking like I am talking now, maybe I would have listened to my thoughts and do something because I felt something was wrong. I felt my son's behaviour change."
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone told Morning Ireland that she was "deeply shocked and appalled to see the children being treated this way".
She added: "I plead with parents to listen to their gut [if they feel something is wrong] and to contact Tulsa if needed.
"Of course that boy has difficulty sleeping when you watch what was going on in that programme."
The agency carried out 2,513 inspections, with all reports available on Tusla’s website.
Mr Lee added: “It is the responsibility of the registered provider to ensure they are fully compliant with the regulations.
"Tusla actively works with service providers all around the country to highlight areas where improvements are necessary and to ultimately improve the standards in services for children.
"Not all non-compliances mean there is a risk to a child and in the majority of cases the service provider can rectify the issue promptly.”
Following the programme's revelations, Tusla has offered the following advice for parents:
- Check if the service provider is registered;
- Check the last inspection report;
- Speak to your provider and seek assurances about the quality of care;
- If you have a concern about an early years’ service you can contact Tusla’s Early years’ Inspectorate on 061 461700 or by emailing early.yearsui@tusla.ie
- Check Tusla’s Quality Regulatory Framework which will help providers and parents to understand the regulations - https://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/4566-TUSLA_QRF_DAY_CARE_LR.pdf
The Hyde and Seek group said that the documentary raised real issues some of which have already been addressed and added that all its crèches are now fully registered and regulated by Tulsa.
