A pre-school operator has been handed a three-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to 20 breaches of childcare regulations. 

Judge Alan Mitchell imposed the sentence on Tracey Stynes of Graceland Playschool of Greenwood Park at Edenderry District Court and banned her from operating a facility for one year until she undertakes and finishes a management course, the Irish Examiner reports.

It was found that although the facility run by Ms Stynes had been subject to 11 inspections in the four years it had been open, conditions there had continued to worsen. Judge Mitchell said it is possible that Ms Stynes was not aware of what she needed to do to improve matters after the previous evaluations. 

Following the revelations, Judge Mitchell called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to be more proactive in instances where services are not improved by childcare providers, despite assessments indicating a need for change.  

In response, the HSE said it has taken on board the comments, but claimed the HSE Preschool Service for the Midlands achieves an inspection rate of 95 per cent to 98 per cent. 

Written by Donal Walsh

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