This article is from page 13 of the 2007-11-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
FOUR of the 50 counts against the proprietor of a créche in Ennis, relat- ing to the running of the premises, have been dismissed by the judge hearing the case.
Martina Baker, of Hopscotch Child- care and Montessori, Quin Road, En- nis, faced seven summonses, divided into 50 counts, relating to various inspections on dates between March 2006 and January 2007.
Judge Tim Lucey heard evidence relating to six of the counts on the first day of the hearing at Ennis Dis- trict Court yesterday and dismissed four of the six, while he has yet to rule on the two others.
Three of the charges he dismissed relate to keeping records while the other was an allegation that Ms Baker failed to ensure adequate ar- rangements were in place to summon medical assistance promptly in an emergency.
Among the remaining counts due
to be contested in court today (Tues- day) include that she is alleged to have failed to ensure the premises
was adequately heated, failed to se- cure the gates in the play area and failed to ensure there was sufficient
nutritional and varied food available for the children. Among the allegations against Ms
Baker include that she failed to take all reasonable measures to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all pre- school children; that she failed to en- sure every child had a suitable means of progression and development with books, games etc, regarding his/her age and stage of development.
She is accused of failing to ensure there was a sufficient number of com- petent adults to supervise preschool children in the service at all times.
She is also accused of failing to provide a suitable equipped First Aid box and failing to ensure there was adequate means of ventilation pro- vided on the premises.
She is further accused of failing to ensure all waste and refuse was dis- posed off frequently and in such a manner as to not cause a nuisance.