Tusla "would have shut down" creche chain Hyde and Seek if it had the power to do so, it has emerged.
Officials from the child agency appeared before a Dail committee yesterday to discuss the disturbing practices at the Hyde and Seek chain following an RTE Prime Time Investigates programme.
A total of 37 creches are described as “critical” on Tusla’s risk register.
Tusla and the Department of Children indicated they would support the roll-out of CCTV in the early years childcare sector.
Tusla director of quality assurance Brian Lee said if it had the power of immediate closure it would have used it to shut down Hyde and Seek.
He added the information the agency had before the RTE probe on the chain was broadcast “would not have been at threshold of concern but based on seeing the programme, absolutely it would hit that threshold.”
The undercover inquiry into the the multi-million euro family business revealed children were being roughly handled, repeated regulation breaches and concerns around sleep room conditions.
The company has four creches across Dublin city catering for youngsters from three months up to 12 years.
Bernie McNally, of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, said since the beginning of 2018 Tusla has prosecuted 22 services.
She added last week’s Prime Time Investigates programme was “deeply distressing” to watch.
“The appalling mistreatment of children and the terrible management practices were inexcusable.”
