Minister for Children Katherine Zappone; clip from RTE Investigates: Creches – Behind Closed Doors which was broadcast on July 24 last
On Wednesday, July 24 last, RTÉ’s Investigates broadcast a report about the standards of care at the Hyde & Seek Childcare company.
The report, called Creches – Behind Closed Doors, exposed failings in the standard of care provided to children in a number of the company’s branches across Dublin.
A Garda investigation into some issues raised in the report was launched after the broadcast.
Further to this…
Aoife Hegarty, of RTÉ, reports today that concerns about the company were raised with the Minister for Children Katherine Zappone more than a year ago.
Ms Hegarty reports:
Correspondence obtained by Fianna Fáil TD Anne Rabbitte shows Minister Zappone received a copy of a complaint forwarded to the Child & Family Agency TUSLA from a parent regarding the Hyde & Seek crèche at Glasnevin on Dublin’s northside.
The new purpose-built facility operated for 14 months without registration.
…The complaint from the parent, which detailed a series of issues with child-to-staff ratios and other safety concerns, was first shared with Minister for Finance Paschal Donohue, who subsequently forwarded it to Minister Zappone.
Minister Zappone acknowledged the crèche was not registered with TUSLA, but said it would be inappropriate for her to interfere in the agency’s ongoing investigations.
Zappone alerted to concerns at Hyde & Seek Childcare more than a year ago (Aoife Hegarty, RTE)
Watch the RTE Prime Time investigation back in full here
Yesterday: Misleading Survivors And The Dáil
UPDATE:
A day after the RTE Investigates documentary was broadcast…
My child was in the creche in #RTEInvestigates in 2009. I took him out & complained to HSE about treatment of children. Yet creche continued. Im not shocked by #creches scandal. It will continue until weve a govt that really cares for children, funds & enforces quality childcare
— Rory Hearne (@RoryHearne) July 25, 2019
That’s two strikes this week for zappone
She’s pretty inappropriate herself.
Is Aoife Hegarty the most annoying “investigative journalist” ever. Every single utterance from her would put you in fear for your life as if the sky is about to fall in on you, the poor fupper at Starbucks who takes her order for a skinny latte must be a complete wreck.
She was in her usual form on RTE’s News at One today, but if you distil this “news” down to its bare bones, someone (presumably a parent, but that’s not stated) complained to TUSLA about standards at the creche. The parent sent a copy of the complaint to Paschal Donohue, who passed to Katherine Zappone, in the latter’s case, she acknowledged the complaint and passed it to TUSLA.
What was Zappone supposed to do? Why keep a dog (TUSLA) and bark yourself? If there’s been a failure by TUSLA to investigate [which, given their form, is about right] then who at TUSLA is accountable. Maybe Pat Rabbitte would know.
What was Zappone supposed to do? That’s the exact question she asked herself when handed the report. Its not as if she is the Minister for Children or anything . Call the guards? naa! To much hard work. Best just arrange the usual press conference and usual photographers to make an announcement about a report she is going to ask for or something . Rhetorical nonsense as usual , not committing to anything and wrapping things up before anyone askes any hard questions. Its mostly if not all RTE reporters ,so no risk there. Keep the old face in the media while doing no actual work. Keep the ministerial salary coming in . Play some online poker . Sipping wine, alone in her house . Buy some new horn rimmed glasses and a new necklace guess. Check in on her personal property portfolio and investments.
Is there a minister to which TUSLA is accountable? If TUSLA isn’t performing, then to whom to we direct our annoyance? Unless of course TUSLA is actually supposed to be some kind of quasi autonomous entity, unaccountable, with which the minister only has a conversational relationship. Seems strange to me, but perhaps that’s how it actually is (as voiced by the establishment mouthpiece above). But wither executive governance … should we not expect better? Should we not demand it?
she’s such a lazy whooer. just do some fuppin work, zappone. christ!