RTÉ Investigates tonight (21:35): Crèches, Behind Closed Doors

Garibaldi?

Cruella in action!! Unbelievable! Tossing kids around like rag dolls! She needs to emigrate!!

themandan6611

it's assault, clear as day. If she did that on the street to an adult she would be arrested and charged. The fact it is a little one with no voice makes it a lot worse. She should in a station right now with more to follow.

Greentopia

Deleted User wrote: »

No surprise then to see a very, very healthy set of profits for the company recorded. I had thought insurance premia were crippling the profit of these companies. Far from it. The €1.25 million which they received from the taxpayer could be better spent by going into a state-owned childcare system than into these private companies which will never care about anything but their profit. Yet another failure of the "privatise everything" rightwing ideology.

That is at the heart of the problem. Allowing the private sector to make big profits in childcare facilities like this, also having weak and inadequate regulations and standards-TUSLA clearly not doing it's job to penalise and ban people like her from running creches.

Deleted User wrote: »

Ireland could be a world leader if it started that

Good luck with that. It would mean catching up to best practice in Europe and have the state take over preschool childcare completely, which would be a huge undertaking, take many years and necessitate billions more in taxes needed to be raised and invested in childcare education and provision. There simply isn't the political will to do that by neoliberal FFG who want to farm it out to the private sector as much as possible.

In some countries like Denmark you are expected to have a three and half year degree in pedagogy, it is treated as a respected profession and there is ongoing and extensive training of the latest developments in childcare psychology and care for all childcare workers. They get paid time off for attending seminars, workshops, training and updating their skills.

FETAC level 5 qualification in childcare is a joke. It covers only very basic knowledge and is not adequate. My closest friend has a Kindergarten qualification from her home country Germany. To become a kindergarten teacher there at minimum you need a bachelor's degree in elementary or early childhood education and must hold a license to teach from your state, which she had.

She came to Ireland and got a job in a top childcare facility in Dublin where many celebrities had their kids. She was shocked at the poor standards and educational qualifications allowed in this country and vowed never to send her own child to a creche here after what she saw and experienced. She did say many of her co-workers worked well and genuinely cared for the children in their care, but the culture and work practices were not as she had when she worked in Bavaria.

I don't have kids but if I had I would never put a child in an Irish creche or pre-school facility more than a few hours for one or two days a week simply to improve socialisation and cognitive skills. And I would have to vet them thoroughly beforehand before handing over my child.

I can't understand parents who just hand over a child to a despicable woman like that tonight to be cared for! don't they see the awful conditions present when they pick up their children?? it boggles my mind

c.p.w.g.w

Just on part 3.. it's genuinely scary stuff.

And the creches made profits of over 2 million in 5 year period...pure greed

Hal3000

themandan6611 wrote: »

it's assault, clear as day. If she did that on the street to an adult she would be arrested and charged. The fact it is a little one with no voice makes it a lot worse. She should in a station right now with more to follow.

Sorry but that is never ever going to happen here. We don't do accountability here in Ireland. Zero will happen to anyone. I wouldn't be surprised if they sue RTE and win...

Greentopia

chin nuts wrote: »

I'd just like to point out that not all creches are like this absolute sh!thole. My kids go to a private creche run by the most dedicated owners and the the staff have been there since the day it opened. They are a credit to the industry. I actually feel sorry for them after watching that because the same numties will tar their hard work with the same brush as the pigs in that show.

That's great, but what are the staff qualifications?

skinny90

What would happen if all the parents sued? They have grounds based on the RTÉ footage no?

Greentopia

Greentopia wrote: »

That's great, but what are the staff qualifications?

That is exactly where Tusla are going wrong though, they seem to think that steadily increasing the qualifications needed is somehow going to improve the standard of overall care.

skinny90

skinny90 wrote: »

What would happen if all the parents sued? They have grounds based on the RTÉ footage no?

I was wondering this also,paying big money for watered down milk and 12c noodles apart from the horrific conditions, it's just unbelievable and heartbreaking.

Hal3000

skinny90 wrote: »

What would happen if all the parents sued? They have grounds based on the RTÉ footage no?

I'm sure they'll be protected by some legal loophole. Rememeber this is Ireland. We don't do accountability here.

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] wrote: »

As mentioned, RTÉ got a tip-off from parents (plural) about this chain of crèches.

Back in 1967 Donogh O'Malley extended free education to secondary school and all secondary schools which accepted state funding came under state authority. Standardised standards and a watchdog. We need something similar here to be extended to pre-school because there's no way a for-profit company will prioritise children's wellbeing over their profits.

Would Irish taxpayers be willing to pay the extra for this extension of free education? (with, I assume, parents paying say, €500 per month per child rather than €1300 or whatever which private companies charge)

It has been extended. The state pays for four hours per day for pre school children.

A pre school gets €280 per month per child, which to be honest, is too little for the smaller schools to run and has the effect of driving them out of business and leaving only the larger businesses who pay minimum wage and cram as many kids as legally allowed in to each room.

fly_agaric

Greentopia wrote: »

Good luck with that. It would mean catching up up best practice in Europe and have the state take over preschool childcare completely, which would be a huge undertaking, take many years and necessitate billions more in taxes needed to be raised and invested in childcare education and provision. There simply isn't the political will to do that by neoliberal FFG who want to farm it out to the private sector as much as possible.

Thing is, it's a bit of a cop out. Ireland is a democracy.

Irish people know the FF/FG policies for public (or what should be public) services and vote them in every single election.

Irish people don't want to pay any more tax (everyone wants to pay less...and expects better services), don't trust the state to run anything and seem to like the idea of these private or quasi-private market based systems with fake competition or more money and cuteness of the "consumer" supposedly buying a better service. edit: As a result, collectively we have to own these "market failures".

Didn't watch as didn't want to upset myself but imagine it will generate same passing outrage as expose several years ago followed by possibly surface level changes (more forms to be filled out??).

Greentopia

sabat wrote: »

Yeah how dare you question the "women can have it all" narrative. They have every right to achieve self-actualisation by warehousing their kids for 10 hours a day in the care of people earning minimum wage.

If childcare was up to standard in this country it wouldn't be a problem. 97% of children age 1 to 3 in Denmark are in creches and preschools. All receive excellent care because the standards and education required to work in the area are far higher than here, and it's mostly state run. Same in many other EU countries. Scapegoating women who want to work, for inadequacies and failings in the system is lazy and sexist and lets the Government and childcare agencies off the hook.

Having said that, I wouldn't have kids if it meant I had to leave them in a childcare facility in this country for a full working week quite honestly. Standards are not adequate. God knows how many other creches like this are out there and I would be loathe to risk it.

c.p.w.g.w

Greentopia wrote: »

If childcare was up to standard in this country it wouldn't be a problem. 97% of children age 1 to 3 in Denmark are in creches and preschools. All receive excellent care because the standards and education required to work in the area are far higher than here, and it's mostly state run. Same in many other EU countries. Scapegoating women who want to work, for inadequacies and failings in the system is lazy and sexist and lets the Government and childcare agencies off the hook.

Having said that, I wouldn't have kids if it meant I had to leave them in a childcare facility in this country for a full working week quite honestly. Standards are not adequate. God knows how many other creches like this are out there and I would be loathe to risk it.

I have told the misses that I'd like to be a stay a home dad(she earns a good bit more than me). But I get funny looks from people when I say it.

After this tonight I think those looks will reduce I think.

Greentopia

Aegir wrote: »

That is exactly where Tusla are going wrong though, they seem to think that steadily increasing the qualifications needed is somehow going to improve the standard of overall care.

It's only one aspect of reform needed, but it's a necessary part of improving standards.

ChikiChiki

have2flushtwice wrote: »

Where does Anne Daly live?? I

Does anyone here have children in her creche?

How come no parents have visited the creches and not see this??

Tusla have a lot to answer for. They need a kick in the hole too

Tusla need more than a kick in the hole. They need to be torpedo'd completly and started again.

cournioni

Plopsu wrote: »

Except in all the cases where they both have to work. Y'know, to be able to afford rent and food and all that kinda stuff.

In that case, don’t have kids.

mojesius

Sorry but I'd rather starve than put my daughter near an evil **** like her. We live next door to a Montessori, 20 young kids, 4 staff, all laughing and singing out the back garden, so some places are genuine but she's just a greedy sadistic cow and Tusla have a lot to answer for.

If she was slamming my kid like that down on a bed like that there'd be murder. I'm so upset after watching that.

Branch

cournioni wrote: »

In that case, don’t have kids.

So can you advise who funds our pensions or taxes if we don't have kids in a few decades?

Hannibal_Smith

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/creches-run-by-woman-whose-staff-lost-child-1.1413711

Not used to posting links, so hope this works. It says :-

HSE regulations do not preclude people with criminal convictions from setting up creches or working in them.

And

A 2012 HSE inspection report obtained by RTÉ for the Hyde and Seek creche on Tolka Road showed three staff were in charge of 27 children the day the inspector arrived.

You'd think Tusla would be watching her like a hawk. Between the 2005 case, seeing Tolka Road's ratios were off and not registering the Glasnevin creche before it was opened. It's a bit of a fumble somewhere.

mojesius

c.p.w.g.w wrote: »

I have told the misses that I'd like to be a stay a home dad(she earns a good bit more than me). But I get funny looks from people when I say it.

After this tonight I think those looks will reduce I think.

My husband stays at home with our toddler as I earn more and it makes sense. He works weekends for extra dough. Screw what people think.

One eyed Jack

Branch wrote: »

So can you advise who funds our pensions or taxes if we don't have kids in a few decades?

Ourselves.

Abba987

mojesius wrote: »

My husband stays at home with our toddler as I earn more and it makes sense. He works weekends for extra dough. Screw what people think.

We can be like ships in the night so as not to need childcare. I've been worried about money lately but we get by fine and after watching that I wouldn't change a thing

c.p.w.g.w

mojesius wrote: »

My husband stays at home with our toddler as I earn more and it makes sense. He works weekends for extra dough. Screw what people think.

Agree, also I like the idea of going for walks in nearby woodlands. Looking for squirrel, birds and ducks. Some of my best memories are weekends fishing for hours with my dad and brother. Being out in nature, the cycling for 2 hours tho wasn't that much fun carrying gear ha ha

mojesius

Abba987 wrote: »

We can be like ships in the night so as not to need childcare. I've been worried about money lately but we get by fine and after watching that I wouldn't change a thing

Yeah us too. We get by fine, have a decent life but don't splurge and are often in the red at the end of the month but it works itself out

sabat

Greentopia wrote: »

If childcare was up to standard in this country it wouldn't be a problem. 97% of children age 1 to 3 in Denmark are in creches and preschools. All receive excellent care because the standards and education required to work in the area are far higher than here, and it's mostly state run. Same in many other EU countries. Scapegoating women who want to work, for inadequacies and failings in the system is lazy and sexist and lets the Government and childcare agencies off the hook.

Having said that, I wouldn't have kids if it meant I had to leave them in a childcare facility in this country for a full working week quite honestly. Standards are not adequate. God knows how many other creches like this are out there and I would be loathe to risk it.

I genuinely don't see the point having children if you just want to fob them off to the care of the state at the earliest opportunity. Is it because that's what's best for them or what's best for you?

Samsgirl

Aegir wrote: »

It has been extended. The state pays for four hours per day for pre school children.

A pre school gets €280 per month per child, which to be honest, is too little for the smaller schools to run and has the effect of driving them out of business and leaving only the larger businesses who pay minimum wage and cram as many kids as legally allowed in to each room.

Three hours, 9 to 12

ChikiChiki

If I was a parent, I think I would be exploring careers based around remote working. Its nearly an evil necessity these days to have both parents working away from home all day to pay the bills. Something doesnt feel right about it even though its the norm.

Technological advances are creating plenty of new ways of working giving a chance to spend more time with loved ones.

dickangel

There was a lot of difficult viewing there.

But some stuff was completely clutching at straws like your one telling telling the kid they were being bold and they'd speak to their parents. Cue shocked expert that pretends it's borderline child abuse. It was unnecessary to include that, just seemed a bit sensational.

Other than that, some worrying practices exposed.

Samsgirl

green123 wrote: »

Parents are 100% to blame.

If you want to have kids then one parent needs to stay home to look after them at least for the first few years.

If you can't afford that, then you can't afford to have kids.

Leaving babies in crèches all week is wrong.

Choose kids or choose a job. You can't have both.

What a crock of ****e.

Only in Ireland you can't have both. Look at Finland or other countries where child care providers are regulated and staff are paid a proper wage.