Inspection of 11 May 2026 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. Following the submission of the second CAPA, a regulatory compliance meeting was held on 21 July 2026 with the registered provider and the person in charge to discuss unresolved non-compliance. Following this, the registered provider was given an additional opportunity to submit evidence to support the corrective and preventive actions previously submitted.
Immediate action notice. Acknowledgments The inspector wishes to acknowledge the cooperation of the registered provider, staff and children who were present on the day of the inspection. Statutory Notices Notice Date Served Detail Immediate Action Notice IAN0821 11/05/2026 There was no Garda vetting in place for one adult who was working directly with the children on the day of inspection. Status The registered provider submitted corrective and preventive actions which addressed the Statutory Notice and were accepted by the Inspectorate.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (a)(b) A review of documentation and discussion with staff evidenced the following. - Two written references were not available in respect of one adult who was working directly with children on the day of inspection. - There was no evidence available to demonstrate that three written references in respect of two staff members had been validated by the registered provider. (c) See Statutory Notice section in relation to Immediate Action Notice IAN0821 served
- Documentation reviewed evidenced that the procedures specified above under 9(2) had not been carried out prior to some adults commencing employment in the service, as detailed above under regulation 9(2) and as follows: - 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. Garda vetting available for one adult was dated after the adult commenced employment. The adult commenced employment on 08 April 2024 and Garda vetting was obtained on 03 May 2024
- There was no evidence available to show that one adult who was working 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
Provider's corrective action:
- We have obtained 2 written references for one adult, and all written references are now validated. All references shall be validated before staff commence working with Bláth na hÓige and filed accordingly
- Garda Vetting was obtained for adult on 3rd of May 2024. Garda Vetting shall be in date going forward for all Staff Members
- We shall check with the National Framework of Qualifications to obtain a relevant Certificate which can be relevant in Ireland. All future staff shall hold a Major award in Early Childhood Care and Education on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- An adequate number of adults were not working directly with the children attending the service during the inspection as the minimum ratio of adults to children was not maintained at all times as outlined below
- The registered provider did not ensure that the minimum required ratio of adults to children was maintained at all times. From the inspector’s arrival at 09:50 to 11:00 there were 3 employees allocated to care for 42 children aged 2 to 5 years attending on a sessional care basis. The minimum adult to child ratio for children in this age range is 1:11. Four qualified adults were required at this time
Provider's corrective action:
- (1)(3) Due to Staff illness and hospital appointments, there was not an adequate number of adults working directly with children. All measures were taken to obtain relief staff but as it had happened a few hours before preschool commenced it was not possible unfortunately. We are in the process of obtaining qualified relief staff on file to ensure that this will not happen again
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- There was no record available detailing the experience of one employee. There was no record of the name, position, qualifications and experience of one other adult who was working directly with the children on the day of inspection
- Records were not open to inspection as detailed under (1)(a) above
Provider's corrective action:
- (1)(a)(3) All Certificates/References for all employees have been obtained and placed on file. All employee information/qualifications shall be on file going forward
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. In the Daisy room, the cupboard beneath the sink was not safely secured and cleaning agents were accessible posing a safety risk if accessed by a child. Infection Control: 2. There were no lids on the pedal operated bins in the Sunflower room and in the sanitary area of the Daisy room posing a risk of the transmission of infection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Cupboard has been cleared of all cleaning agents. Cleaning agents shall be kept in the staff room. Infection Control: 2. New Bins with lids and pedals have been placed in all rooms. All bins going forward shall have lids and pedals
Regulation 25 — First aid
- There was no member of staff available at all times with up to date First Aid Responder (FAR) training. FAR certification had expired for three staff on 09 September 2025
Provider's corrective action:
- Staff have renewed their FAR Training Course and Certificates shall be issued in 3-4 weeks. FAR Certificates shall be in date going forward
Regulation 33 — Furnishing of information to agency
- The registered provider did not furnish the inspector with information required to enforce the Regulations. On the inspector’s arrival the registered provider detailed the names of the six employees of the service. Information relating to the identity of two adults present on inspection was withheld as follows. 1. One adult (Person A) was observed working directly with the children on the inspector’s arrival. When the identity of this adult was requested, the registered provider and this adult incorrectly identified the adult as a named employee of the service (Person B). 2. Person B subsequently arrived at the service at 11:00. When their identity was requested, they incorrectly identified themselves as a different employee who was not present on the day of inspection (Person C). 3. On review of personal identification documentation in the staff files, it was evident that the person claiming to be Person B had misrepresented themselves. This information was presented to the registered provider who confirmed the correct identity of Person B and confirmed that Person A was not an employee of the service
Provider's corrective action:
- Staff have had a meeting discussing Regulation 33. Staff have had a meeting to ensure this does not happen again
Found compliant: Regulation 15, 19.