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Parents stand by crèche prosecuted by HSE

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by Andrew Carey

andrew@limerickpost.ie

PARENTS of children who attend a Limerick childcare facility found in breach of HSE safe sleep regulations have come to the defence of the operators and told a judge that the creche is a “like a second home” for their children.

Fiona Doheny was prosecuted by the HSE and pleaded guilty to four breaches of the regulations concerning childcare at Tí na Leanaí creche based in her home in Toureen, Ballysimon.

During a number of inspections this year, HSE inspectors expressed serious concerns about the operation after they found children sleeping on a beanbag, in a high chair and in a sleep room without a monitor when they visited the premises last February.

Another child was found asleep in the sleep room adjacent to the main area and the sleep monitor was not turned on. A 15 month-old child was asleep in a standard cot and the hood of his jumper was over his head, creating the risk of the child overheating.

The creche also had breaches relating to the completion of records, notification of change of use and the adult child ratio at the premises.

HSE inspector, Marie Riordan, told the court that Tí na Leanaí was registered to care for no more that five children but that Ms Donehy was caring for 15 children, three of whom were absent on the day of the inspection. Six children were being cared for full-time and another five were being provided with Montessori sessional care.

After childcare expert, Dr Mary Moloney, said that Ms Doheny had since regularised her facility to become 100 per cent compliant, the HSE said they still had concerns relating to Ms Doheny’s childcare facility.

However, after Judge Eugene O’Kelly heard from a number of parents who praised the standard of care at the facility, he said he would find it “very difficult to impose a penalty” against Ms Doheny.

He said that if she made a €1,000 contribution to the Children’s Ark at the University Hospital Limerick by December 4, the case would be struck out.

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