Immediate action notice. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on 24 February 2026 in relation to no Garda Vetting available for one staff member. An adequate response was received from the registered provider on 25 February 2025. Acknowledgments The inspectors wish to acknowledge the cooperation of the registered provider, staff and children who were present on the day of the inspection.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
(2)(c) One Garda vetting disclosure was unavailable for one adult. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on 24 February 2026
Provider's corrective action:
Garda Vetting for new staff member has been applied for and vetting disclosure has been received and forwarded to Tusla. Garda vetting disclosure will be available for all new staff before employment commences so that regulatory compliance is met
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
Administration of Medication: Records reviewed outlined that a preschool child was recorded as having an allergy to certain food products. The staff verbally outlined to the inspector the child’s allergy. However, no care plans were completed and signed by the child’s parents to include signs, symptoms and procedures for what staff should do in the case of a reaction and or emergency
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective & Preventive Action Administration of Medication: The child in question didn’t have an allergy to certain food products but had a very mild intolerance to certain dairy products. At no stage was the child in any danger of suffering from any life-threatening reaction to these foods because the worst-case scenario would be that the child would vomit if these foods were consumed. A recommendation by the inspector was that a care plan be in place. After speaking to the child’s mother about a care plan, she informed me that the child no longer has any intolerance to these foods and that she didn’t mention it to us as the child doesn’t have these foods in creche. If any child has an Allergy/intolerance to any food product, I will ensure that there is a care plan in place. In the case of a very mild intolerance to any food product, we will have on display a picture of the child and describe what will happen if they eat/come in to contact with these foods
Regulation 29 — Premises
(d) A toilet seat was missing from one of the two toilets in the children’s sanitary facilities on the first floor. This is a recurring non-compliance from the last inspection, where the registered provider's response detailed that “New Toilet seat is scheduled to be fitted 19/07/25. Toilet seats will be checked daily & replaced/repaired promptly”. The corrective and preventive actions taken by the registered provider did not adequately address the non- compliance or prevent the non-compliance from recurring
Provider's corrective action:
New toilet seat has been fitted. Toilet seats will be replaced if broken and a spare seat will be stored and fitted promptly if needed
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28.
(4) The registered provider did not ensure that each employee working directly with children attending the service held at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be equivalent. Between 1.04pm and 1.27pm, two staff members were observed to provide care for 10 preschool children (one of whom was in a cot in the sleep room attached to the Toddler room) ranging in age from 2 years 8 months to 3 years 11 months, all of whom attended on a part time or full day care basis. One of the two staff members, who also works as the service cook, did not hold the required qualification to work directly with children. This is a reoccurring non-compliance from the service’s last inspection on 17/04/2024, where the registered provider outlined in their corrective and preventative actions “The registered provider will ensure that only adults with a childcare qualification will provide direct care to children.”
Provider's corrective action:
All staff directly working with children have a minimum of level 5 Early Childhood Care & Education. The registered provider will ensure that all adults providing direct care to children will have a childcare qualification
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A window in Preschool 2 on the first floor was not fitted with a restricting device. This posed a risk of injury from falling, should a child use furniture or fixtures in the room to gain access to the windowsill. Infection Control: 2. A shower curtain was fitted to each of the two toilet cubicles in the children’s sanitary facilities downstairs which poses a cross contamination and infection control risk. This non-compliance remained outstanding following the CAPA process for the last inspection on 17/04/2024. Administration of Medication: 3. A child attending the service was prescribed an auto-injector adrenaline pen for specific use in the event of an emergency. The auto-injector pen provided by the child’s parents, which was stored in the service for use in the event of an emergency, had expired. The expiry date on the auto-injector pen was dated November 2024
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective & Preventive Action General Safety: 1. A restricting device is scheduled to be fitted on window in Preschool 2 on 19/07/25. All windows will now have a restricting device fitted and checked regularly. Infection Control: 2. Two new toilet cubicles with doors have been fitted. Toilet cubicles will have doors. Administration of Medication: 3. The auto injector adrenaline pen has been replaced by the parents with an expiry date of 01/2026. Going forward we will check expiry date when it is supplied by parent and document/record this so that it will not get over-looked. Parents will be asked to supply a new one a few weeks prior to its expiry date
Regulation 29 — Premises
(d) In the second children’s toilet cubicle upstairs, the floor covering was torn. Tape had been placed over the torn area which posed a risk of a trip hazard to the children. This non-compliance remained outstanding following the CAPA process for the last inspection on 17/04/2024. (e) 1. There was inadequate handwashing facilities provided in the downstairs children’s sanitary accommodation between the Toddlers and Preschool 1 room. A total of 9 toilet trained children attended the Preschool 1 room and 4 children in nappies attended the Toddler room. One wash hand basin is required for each individual toilet, and nappy changing mat. 2. A toilet seat was missing from one of the two toilets in the children’s sanitary facilities on the first floor. This would not adequately support a child’s comfort or safety when sitting to use the toilet
Provider's corrective action:
(d) New floor covering will be fitted 19/07/2025. Floor covering will be replaced if it becomes torn/damaged. (e) 1. A second wash hand basin is scheduled to be fitted 19/07/25. The required number of wash hand basins will be available. 2. New Toilet seat is scheduled to be fitted 19/07/25. Toilet seats will be checked daily & replaced/repaired promptly
Immediate action notice. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on the 17th April 2024 under
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
(4) One staff member who was employed as the cook was observed providing care to children during the inspection, this person did not hold any childcare qualification
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action Staff providing care to the children have a childcare qualification with the exception of staff breaks when an unqualified staff member assists with these but is accompanied at all times by a qualified member of staff. Staff providing care to the children have a childcare qualification. Preventive Action The registered provider is actively trying to recruit newly qualified members of staff, so that going forward, hopefully all staff working directly with the children will have a childcare qualification. The registered provider will ensure that only adults with a childcare qualification will provide direct care to children. Summary Comment This regulation remains outstanding as an unqualified a staff member provides cover for the staff during breaks and is therefore working directly with children contravening the requirements of this regulation. The registered provider has given assurances that she is actively trying to recruit a new qualified staff member
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
Present on the day of inspection were the designated person in charge, 2 childcare staff and a cook caring for 28 children. The registered provider arrived at 10:55am when the inspection had commenced and was present for the remainder of the day. (1) & (2) Wobbler/Toddler room: Between 10.30am and 10.55am and 11.55am to 14.25pm there was an inadequate number of staff present. One staff member was providing care for 8 preschool children ranging in age from 1 year 7 months to 2 years and 9 months all attending on full day care. Two staff members were required. The staff member present was observed changing nappies in the adjoining nappy changing area while trying to supervise a group of children who remained in the care room and this was done while observing those children through the open doorway. During this period the children in the care room became restless and the staff member was heard directly the children “don’t do that”, “sit on the chair”, “we don’t pull toys” through the open doorway. (8) As a staff roster was not available, it was not possible for the inspectors to ascertain if two staff members were on the premises at all times. Adult:child ratios were found to be non-compliant at the last inspection on 16/8/2023. The registered provider gave assurances at that time that this non-compliance would not re-occur. However, the actions stated were not sufficient to ensure compliance with this regulation
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (1) There are now 6 toddlers in toddler room as 2 children have been moved to another playroom so 1 member of staff working in this room with 6 children now meets adult/child ratios. (2) During nappy changing there is a clear view of the children at all times. When possible directions to the children will be at the child’s level but this may not always possible i.e. during nappy changing. All conversations with children or directions are in soft child friendly tone
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
(i) A staff roster was not available for inspection. This was also a non-compliance on the previous two inspections on the 20th June 2022 and the 16th August 2023 despite assurances from the registered provider measures were not put in place to maintain compliance
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action A staff rota is now in place. Preventive Action A staff rota will be kept in place and available for inspection
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. In the Wobbler/Toddler Room, at 13.05pm four children were sitting at the table having their dinner. Four children awoke from sleep and were waiting for their dinner which did not arrive until 14:25pm. During this time the four children were removed from the table and brought to the library area as the dinner was delayed. One child was upset and began to cry. This unrealistic expectation of waiting one hour and twenty minutes does not meet the developmental need of these children. 2. A staff member stated that the outdoor play area was not available to the children since November 2023 and therefore the children were not brought outside. Outdoor play supports children’s holistic development and wellbeing and provides children with the opportunity for exploring, engaging and experimenting with nature. Physical energetic exercise helps children to development gross and fine motor skills along with social skills of turn taking and playing with their peers
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action 1.(b) Children will receive their dinner within 10/15 minutes after their nap. It is not normal practice for the children to have to wait 1hr and 20mins for their dinner after awaking from their nap. 2.Children receive outdoor play on daily basis Preventive Action (1)(b) Children will not have to wait longer than 15 mins for their dinner when they awake from their nap. 2. Play area will be available to children at all times unless on days when weather is deemed unsuitable. Summary Comment In the response received from the registered provider, she has given assurances that meal times for children will not be delayed and that children will have the opportunity to play outdoors on a daily basis. These assurances were further discussed at the regulatory compliance meetings. The Inspectorate is accepting the assurances given and will assess compliance with both matters at the next inspection
Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play
(3)(a) The outdoor area was not available for children as the fence was down and the outdoor space was not safe and secure
Provider's corrective action:
The fence is now repaired and will be checked each morning by a staff member
Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials
1. In the Wobbler/Toddler room the table available was too small for the eight children attending. Therefore, at morning snack time one child was placed at the sneeze blowing station while another child was assisted with feeding while sitting on the couch
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action There are 6 children in toddler room now so table in room is sufficient in allowing all children to sit comfortably at mealtimes. Preventive Action A second table will be provided, if needed. Summary Comment The response from the registered provider was reviewed and further discussed at the regulatory compliance meeting. Assurances have been given stating that the number of children in this care room was reduced to 6, and that the table space available was sufficient for that number. This has been accepted and will be reviewed at the next inspection
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: The following safety measures were not in place on the day of inspection: 1. Skirting boards were propped against the wall which posed a toppling risk. Infection Control: The following infection control measures were not in place on the day of inspection: 2. In the second children’s toilet cubicle upstairs the covering on the floor was torn which did not provide a smooth surface for adequate cleaning. 3. A toilet brush was accessible to children in the first children’s toilet cubicle upstairs. Safe Sleep: 4. The registered provider provided sleep observations records for the day of inspection (16/4/ 2024) and for the day previous to the day of inspection. The last recorded record prior to this was the 13 /9/2023. Sleeping children must be observed at 10 minute intervals with their colour, position and breathing pattern recorded and signed by the staff member. Fire Safety: 5. Fire drills for the whole service were not conducted on a monthly basis. There was evidence that fire drills were being practiced for the care rooms on the first floor only. Best practice recommends that fire drills are completed for the entire service at one time
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. Skirting boards have been fitted & no longer pose a risk of toppling. Nothing will be left free standing that may pose a risk of toppling. Infection Control: 2. Floor covering will be replaced (in next few weeks). Floor covering will be kept in good condition, checked daily & replaced when needed. 3. Toilet brush has been removed and will not be stored in children’s cubicle. Safe Sleep: 4. Sleep records are in place daily. Sleep observation records will continue to be carried out for each child taking a nap on a daily basis. Fire Safety: Fire drills are being carried out as required on the ground floor
Regulation 25 — First aid
(2) Many of the items in the first aid boxes throughout the service were out of date. The first aid boxes were not adequately stocked. This was also found to be non-compliant at the last inspection on 16/8/2023 and the assurances given by the registered provider were insufficient to prevent re-occurrence
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (2) First Aid boxes will be adequately stocked throughout the service. Preventive Action (2)First aid boxes will be checked on regular basis and stocked as needed
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
(1)(a) There was no written records available of fire drills carried out for the Wobbler/Toddler Room
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action Fire drill was carried out on 24/04/24. Preventive Action The registered provider will continue to carry out fire drills on a monthly basis
Regulation 29 — Premises
The following was observed in the children’s sanitary facilities downstairs: (d) • There were no partitions between the 2 toilets in the sanitary area. • There were no doors to provide privacy. (e) • There were holes in the walls with plaster missing. • The wooden surround for the main entrance to the sanitary area had a raw wood surface which was not adequate for effective cleaning
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action A partition has been placed between toilets. Wooden surround will be painted (within the next few weeks). Preventive Action Sanitary facilities will be maintained to ensure privacy & dignity of children at all times