Tusla has announced its decision to order the closure of four Hyde & Seek creches in Dublin.
The child and family agency says it has decided to remove the four facilities - located at Tolka Road, Shaw Street, Millbourne Avenue and Glasnevin - from the early years' services register.
It follows a Prime Time investigation earlier this year which raised concerns about the standards of childcare at the company.
According to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Tusla is also in the process of "prosecuting the Hyde & Seek companies and their registered providers".
Tusla has given the creches a closure date of 31st December, and also says it will fast-track any applications for new childcare providers in the area.
Hyde & Seek confirmed this afternoon that they would appeal the decision.
The company said: “We do not accept the outcome of the regulatory process. Since the airing of the RTÉ programme we have continued to work to ensure we adhere to the highest standards.
"We are very confident in the service provided at all four of our creches and will appeal this decision.”
Tusla decision
Announcing their decision, Tusla said in a statement: "Tusla acknowledges that parents will find themselves in the difficult position of finding alternative childcare providers in these areas, and has notified the Department of Children and Youth Affairs of our concerns, who are working with the local City/County Childcare Committees to make support available to parents.
"Tusla will expedite any applications for registration of new childcare providers in this area, or any applications for a Change in Circumstances (eg change of owner) in this area. Tusla also acknowledges the impact on staff at these services."
File photo of Hyde & Seek Childcare Creche Tolka Road Dublin. Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ieChildren's Minister Katherine Zappone said the de-registrations show Tusla's "robust approach in taking action where it finds evidence of non-compliance with regulations".
She said: “I have great sympathy for the parents who have their children in the crèches and who will need to find alternative childcare options.
"In addition to the distress already caused to parents by the poor standards evidenced, the prospect of losing their crèche is clearly a major worry for these parents.
"Officials in my Department have been liaising with Dublin City Childcare Committee and Fingal County Childcare Committee, to offer supports to parents who will be affected by the closures.”
Register
The child and family agency has also now committed to publicly detailing its decisions to remove services from the register in the future.
Brian Lee, Director of Quality Assurance at Tusla, said: "As the regulator in this sector, Tusla’s role is to monitor the safety and quality of care and support of children in early years’ provision to ensure compliance with regulations.
"Where there are consistent and serious breaches, Tusla will take action up to and including prosecution and removal from the register of early years’ services."
The Hyde & Seek chain featured in an RTÉ Investigates documentary earlier this year.
Their crèches cater for children from three months up to 12 years of age.
The documentary reported that while researchers witnessed some examples of good care, the undercover workers started to observe repeated breaches of regulation.
RTÉ also claimed the Hyde & Seek crèche in Glasnevin went unregistered for some 14 months.
