Lenihan announces new childcare regulations
20/03/2006 - 15:09:08The Minister for Children, Brian Lenihan has announced the introduction of new regulations for childcare facilities but has cautioned against a requirement for staff to be professionally trained.
The move follows revelations that three hundred official complaints against creches were lodged to the HSE in the past two years.
Some involved the repeated slapping of children, or toddlers being left alone in public places.
In one case, a person was sacked after tying a child's hands behind its back with sticky tape.
But the Minister has warned that requiring creche staff to be trained professionally could drive up costs and said he is opposed to creating a closed shop or monopoly in the area of child-care.
