Inspection of 27 August 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2)(a) & (b) 1. Four validated references were not on file in respect of 3 adults. 2. Validations required were not on file for 7 written references. (d) 3. Police vetting was not on file in respect of 3 adults who had resided outside the jurisdiction for a period of longer than 6 consecutive months. The Police vetting required was for 1 adult who resided in 1 country outside of Ireland, 2 adults who required it for a second country resided in outside of Ireland and 1 adult who did not have Police vetting translated by a certified translation company
Provider's corrective action:
- (2) (a) 1. The references are now on file. 2. The references that had not been validated have been validated via telephone. To prevent these non-compliances from reoccurring, management will review the staff files to ensure the appropriate information is recorded. New employees will not be permitted to begin work until the references and validations are on file. (d) The Police vetting for 2 adults was applied for and received. The 1 adult who required Police vetting from 2 countries resided in outside of Ireland, ceased employment in the service on 12.09.’25
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. There were 2 radiator covers not secured to the wall, 1 in the Senior pre-school room and 1 in the lobby of the senior pre-school sanitary accommodation posing a risk of injury to the children. 2. The inspector was informed by staff when asked that a method used to heat bottles of milk for children was in the microwave located in the kitchenette in the creche, posing a risk of scalding to children caused by potential hot spots. 3. There were 2 sets of fire exits doors in the hall that had low-level push bar handles used to open the doors. The doors opened out to the carpark and roadway posing a risk of injury to children. 4. There were unsecured window guards in place on the 5 low- level windows in the hall posing a risk of injury to the children. 5. The child safety gate in place on the kitchen door in the creche was not secured posing a risk of injury to children. 6. On the day of the inspection, the inspector observed the children playing in the hall. The stage with steps leading to it, an open area under the stage used for storage, access to communal dressing rooms and adult sanitary accommodated was not adequately secured posing a risk of injury to the children. 7. Garda vetting disclosures had been obtained for the 14 adults attached to the service. However, 2 vetting disclosures were not dated within the previous three years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EY-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’ Infection Control: 8. There were children’s spare clothing items stored in an open wall mounted pocket storage in the children’s sanitary accommodation serving the Senior pre-school posing a risk of cross infection. 9. There was an unlabelled oral gel stored in the kitchenette in the creche, the expiry date demonstrated it was out of date. The staff informed the inspector when asked that it had been used for more than 1 child posing a risk of cross infection. 10. The lid of the foot operated bin in the adult toilet was broken posing a risk of cross infection as the lid of the bin was touched when disposing paper hand towels. Fire Safety: 11. There were 2 clothes airers in use and 7 feeding chairs in the hallway leading to 1 fire exit door, posing a risk to children of not exiting promptly in the event of a fire of injury to children due to the obstructions. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Immediately after the inspection management hired a tradesman to secure both radiator covers. The staff have been asked to complete weekly visual inspections of the fixtures/fittings to complete the devised template devised. If any item requires attention the staff will note the detail and send a picture directly to management through the software application in operation in the service. Once management receive the message, the risk will be inspected and a corrective action will be put in place. If the issue is deemed an immediate risk, the area will be closed off / the item removed. 2. All staff have been informed of the dangers of heating bottles in the microwave. A bottle warmer was purchased and is in place to use to heat the bottles as required. A notice is displayed in the creche kitchenette to state the microwave is not to be used. 3. From the day of the inspection the children were not permitted to use the hall until the fire doors had been adequately secured. The overhead power button on the doors has reconnected, preventing children from opening the doors. The staff will check that the doors are secured before entering the hall. If the doors are not secured the hall will not be used until the doors are secured. 4. The window guards were removed permanently by the Camp community council once they were informed. 5. A new child safety gate was installed. 6. Gates have been installed at either side of the stage to prevent children from accessing the stage, the storage area, which was cleared out, communal dressing rooms and adult sanitary accommodation. 7. The Garda vetting for the 2 adults was applied for and received. Infection Control: 8. The children’s spare clothing was immediately. All clothing was washed on a 60-degree wash with disinfectant detergent. Clothing in now stored in a locked cabinet in the pre-school room. All staff are aware of the location of the new storage for the children’s spare clothes. 9. The oral gel was immediately disposed of. Oral gels will be provided by the parents for individual children, they will be labelled, the expiry date will be checked by the parents and re-checked by the staff. 10. A new bin has been ordered to replace the current bin. Fire Safety: 11. The clothes airers and the feeding chairs have been removed and are now stored in the closed storage area beside the staff kitchen
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (d) 1. The hall door handle was not in proper working order as it was loose and not secure. (e) 2. There was 1 nappy changing unit and 1 wash hand basin in use for 15 children (creche & pre-school children) in nappies. The requirement is 1 nappy changing unit and 1 wash hand basin for 11 children in nappies
Provider's corrective action:
- (d) 1. The broken door handle was disposed of and a new door handle fitted. A weekly visual inspection by staff will be carried out. (e) 2. The staff bathroom has been relocated to the bathroom off the kitchen area lobby. Staff also have access to the bathroom in the sports hall. The former adult bathroom is now used as a nappy changing area for children; there is a fully functioning changing table with a low height wash hand basin in place. This new nappy changing facility will remain in place
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 25, 26.