Inspection of 4 February 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- The registered provider did not take appropriate measures to ensure that all adults were suitable to work in an early years service prior to their commencement as follows. - Four references in respect of three adults were not validated prior to the adults commencing employment. One adult commenced working in the service on 21 August 2023 and both references had been validated on 25 August 2023. One adult commenced employment on 25 August 2025 and their second reference had been validated on 03 September 2025. One adult commenced employment on 01 September 2025 and their second reference was validated on 02 September 2025
- On the day of inspection, there was no evidence available to show that two adults who were employed to work directly with the children in the service held a relevant major award in Early Childhood Care and Education on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent. This non-compliance was present on previous inspections in 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020. The corrective and preventive actions as stated by the registered provider did not prevent recurrence of this non-compliance
Provider's corrective action:
- Upon identifying this timing issue, we have reviewed all staff files to ensure two validated references are in place for all staff. No staff member is currently employed without two validated references on file. The service already has a recruitment and compliance checklist in place, requiring two validated references, we have slightly modified this to include “validated prior to commencement’. Following this inspection finding, the implementation of this procedure was reviewed with the administrator and management team to ensure strict adherence. A meeting took place to reiterate, that all staff must have validated references prior to starting, even if not working directly with the children or in for training. A sample of files will continue to be audited by management monthly to ensure compliance
- One staff member has now submitted application for DCEDIY qualification recognition. The other staff member is awaiting a document before submission can proceed. The service operates a specialist programme for children with additional needs and is also required to meet Department of Education funding criteria. We remain committed to ensuring compliance with Tusla requirements and have taken steps to ensure formal recognition under Regulation 9(4) is obtained and documented. Management will verify recognition status prior to rostering staff to work directly with children and prior to inclusion in ratio calculations The personnel file template has been updated to include a specific field confirming whether the qualification is recognised by DCEDIY for the purposes of Regulation 9(4), and evidence of recognition is held on file. Management oversight has been strengthened through the introduction of a secondary verification check prior to rostering staff and prior to inclusion in ratio calculations. Monthly audits of personnel files will continue to ensure ongoing compliance with Regulation 9(4)
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for one staff member. However, this vetting disclosure was not dated within the previous three years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. 2. In T1, several cracks at the children’s level in the glass window were observed posing a potential risk of injury to the children. 3. In T2, the cupboard beneath the sink was not safely secured and hand soap, hand sanitisers, shower gels and plastic bags were accessible posing a safety risk if accessed by a child. Infection Control: The inspector observed a number of practices which posed a risk of transmission of infection within the service: 4. Three children in T3 did not wash their hands before their snack posing a risk of the transmission of infection. 5. Blue paper towel was not stored in dispensers in T1, T2 and T4. Staff were observed handling the rolls of paper posing a risk of cross contamination. 6. In the sanitary areas on the ground floor and the first floor, cloth hand towel dispensers were in use posing a risk of cross contamination. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting for this employee had just lapsed, following 3 years since employment. Employee has now received a new garda vetting. At present, the service is using notes and spreadsheets. The Service has signed up to an online system and once we have it up and running correctly, we should receive automatic notifications of document expiry. 2. The glass has since been replaced. This was already an action in process prior to inspection. 3. The cupboard beneath the sink a child safety lock attached. We will continue to monitor the building maintenance and replace items when they become worn. Plastic bags and sanitisers will be kept out of reach of children in a child safety lock below the sink. Infection Control: 4. The classroom supervisor has reiterated the importance of hand hygiene with staff and children. Importance of hand hygiene reiterated to staff and children. 5. We have ordered additional blue paper towel dispensers for each classroom – due to be delivered. Company on contract to repeat fill these dispensers. 6. We will remove the cloth hand towel dispenser and replace with hand paper towel dispenser, we have received a quote for the above, and a company will be fitting these. Company on contract to repeat fill these dispensers
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (c) 1. Parts of the premises were not adequately heated. During the inspection, the room temperature in T3 was 15.9°C at 11:26 which is below the required range of 18-22°C. (d) Areas of the service were not adequately cleaned, maintained and repaired as follows. 2. A build-up of dirt and dust was observed on areas of the flooring and shelving throughout the service and a deep clean was required. 3. The paintwork was chipped in areas throughout the service with plasterboard exposed in places. 4. An area of the flooring in T3 was damaged and the floor covering was missing. 5. In the sanitary area on the ground floor, the wooden unit under one of the children’s sinks was water damaged and the laminate had broken away in places exposing an unfinished wooden surface. 6. The wooden frame of the mirror in the soft play area was missing on two sides, leaving a rough surface exposed
Provider's corrective action:
- (c) 1. The heating system is fully operational, and staff have full access to temperature controls to adjust heating levels as required. The nature of the programme includes high levels of physical activity (e.g., sensory circuits, trampoline use and movement-based activities), and room temperature is often adjusted in response to children’s activity levels. Following the inspection, heating levels were immediately increased to ensure the room temperature was maintained within the required range. 3 room thermometers have been ordered so we are able to continuously measure room temperature. (d) 2. A full deep clean of the premises took place following inspection. Deep clean have been scheduled for every break, i.e. midterms, easter, Christmas, summer. Alongside our usual cleaning schedules/ Rotas. 3. We are awaiting a quote from a painter and have planned to schedule works for the two-week break over Easter holidays. Painter is coming to quote on the 24th with works due end of March. 4. The area of flooring had an extra layer of lino in T3, which was glued to original floor and acted as a tripping hazard was removed. The glue was removed from the floor, the floor remains discoloured, in comparison to the rest of the floor but is clean and there is no risk of tripping. 5. The sink unit has been replaced. 6. The mirror has been fixed. The registered provider and management will complete a thorough check of the building before every school holiday break, so if anything needs to be repaired it can be done so with minimum disruption to the children. Anything identified with immediate concern will be rectified immediately
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 25, 26.