Legislation which would establish a child and family support agency is to come before the Cabinet within the next four to five weeks, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.

He said the Government would co-operate with Opposition parties to ensure the Bill was put through the Oireachtas.

“I think there is an opportunity here that the image, brand and culture, around for a very long time, can be smashed by the setting up of the new child and family support agency,’’ he added.

Mr Kenny was responding in the Dail today to last night’s RTÉ Prime Time programme highlighting the apparent mistreatment of children in three crèches.

The Taoiseach, who described the programme as a “shocking exposé’’, said it was also important to say that not all child care services were similar.

He added that a far more comprehensive regime of inspection was required, adding that 25 additional staff were being recruited. Plans were also advanced to require registration for all child care providers, he added.

Mr Kenny said the issue was about children and the Government would not accept any inferior standards.

Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin said anybody watching the RTÉ programme would have been shocked and very, very concerned at the footage shown. The programme uncovered cruelty and abuse. "There was a fundamental abuse of the trust parents place in the management of these particular services,'' he added.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said the needs of children were not being met. “In reality, they are being violated,’’ he added.