# Dun Dealgan Childcare, Dundalk — inspection reports and findings > Dun Dealgan Childcare (Dundalk, Co. Louth): what Tusla inspections found — 4 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Dun Dealgan Childcare Full Day · 2 - 6 Years · Dundalk, Louth · Tusla ID **TU2022LH002** · Registered since 30 September 2025 An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md). #### Inspection of 20 May 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - Infection Control: The following cross infection risks were observed: 1. The nappy bins observed in use on the day of the inspection were considered unsuitable as the pedal operating function was broken and the staff had to push the soiled nappies through an opening on the top of the bin. One of the bins also had a front panel open exposing the content of the bins. This is at variance with the infection control requirements to have a pedal operated sealed, airtight, leak proof container for the disposal of soiled nappies. 2. One child’s own chicken dinner which was not eaten at lunchtime was not returned back to the fridge and left sitting out on the worktop. Allowing food to remain at room temperature for longer than 2 hours has the potential to permit the growth of food poisoning bacteria. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - s 1. The nappy bins were removed and replaced with new bins that are lined with bags. These are foot operated and meet the standards required for cross infection. Monthly risk assessments are in place and the bins will be checked to ensure they meet compliance. 2. All staff have been advised to return all foods if not consumed by the child to the fridge and the lid placed on the box afterwards. Staff all signed off in this and are aware of the potential food poisoning bacteria if left out ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - 1. In the toilet off the Aqua Room, mould spots were evident along the edges of the ceiling. Paint was observed chipping off the walls in places and there was a lingering odour of ‘damp’. In addition, there was a lingering odour of damp emanating into the hallway when the door to the Discovery room opened. 2. The second toilet in the Aqua Room was kept locked throughout the inspection and after the morning session chairs were stored in front of the door. The toilet was therefore not freely accessible at all times to the children. This was also evident when all the children were queuing to wash their hands, and 1 child had to seek out a staff member to say they needed to use the toilet. The staff member had to open the 2nd toilet to allow the child use it - s 1. All the walls of the Aqua room were washed down. An electoral air freshener has been ordered from Initial hygiene. This will be part of the monthly risk assessments of the rooms and toilets to ensure that they are compliant at all times. 2. The second toilet in the Aqua room is now open at all times and the key has been removed. There is no items blocking the door. The staff in the Aqua room were spoken to regarding the second toilet that it must remain accessible at all times Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 25. #### Inspection of 4 December 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) **Immediate action notice.** This inspection was carried out following receipt of information from the service. An Immediate Action Notice was issued in respect of 1 staff member who did not have documentary evidence of a processed Garda Vetting disclosure. The registered provider gave written assurances of appropriate immediate actions undertaken in the service to control the risk to children. ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - The registered provider did not ensure that appropriate vetting procedures had been completed for all staff. The following documents were not available and were not in place prior to the staff members and students commencing in the service; (2) (a) and (b) Documentary evidence of 2 written and validated references were not available for 2 students who were present in the service. (c) Documentary evidence of a processed garda vetting disclosure was not available for one staff member observed working with the preschool children during the inspection. An immediate action notice was issued in respect of this staff member to which an acceptable response was received. (d) 1. Documentary evidence of a processed international police vetting was not available for 1 staff member who had resided in a 2nd country outside the Irish jurisdiction for a period of 6 months or more as an adult. 2. Documentary evidence of international police vetting was not available for 1 student who had resided outside the Irish jurisdiction for a period of 6 months or more as an adult. These are recurring non-compliances from the previous inspection which was carried out on 03/10/2023. This practice is also at variance to the corrective and preventative actions previously submitted by the registered provider, to address similar non-compliances which stated that “©references and international vetting will be confirmed” before employees commence their positions within the service”. (3) Following a review of the staff files it was observed that all staff members did not have vetting procedures carried out by the registered provider prior to the staff being employed or having contact or access to the preschool children in the service - s Two written and validated references were provided to the inspectors. Garda vetting was applied for. This staff member was asked to leave the business until the Garda vetting was processed. The staff member in question now has documentary evidence of international police vetting for 2 countries. They have also applied for an English translation. International Police vetting has been applied for by the student. The placement with Dun Dealgan Childcare has been put on pause until the police vetting is processed. Going forward the registered provider has taken over the duty to obtain written and validated references, Garda vetting and to ensure all international vetting is in place prior to commencement of employment or student placements. The registered provider will also make sure that all police vetting is in English translation if required ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - The Inspectorate is not assured that adequate steps have been taken to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the pre-school children attending the service. The following observations were made: General Safety: 1. On arrival to the premises the inspectors were able to walk directly into the service as the front door was unlocked. 2. The registered provider and service manager when questioned were not familiar with some of the procedures contained within the services child welfare and protection policy. Infection Control: 3. At 1.30pm there was no running hot water available in the sanitary areas when the inspectors checked the water temperatures. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - s 1. This has been addressed to all staff to keep the doors on lock at all times to avoid this from happening again. Also, a notice has been fixed to the door as a gentle reminder to staff. The door is checked all the time and staff have been made aware from a health & safety & welfare of all the children that the door must remain on lock at all times to ensure the safety of the children. 2. The registered provider is familiar with procedures contained within the child welfare and protection policy for the service. A review of the procedures in the child welfare and protection policy will be reviewed in the next staff meeting by all the staff team. This-will be scheduled at the end of January for a staff meeting. 3. The thermostat temperature has been moved up to help with that problem going forward. Periodic checks take place throughout the day to make sure that the water is hot at all times for usage of staff and children for infection control Found compliant: Regulation 11, 16, 19, 27, 32. ### Earlier inspections - 16 June 2026 — Inspection Report - 18 December 2023 — Inspection Report · PDF ### Other services in Louth - [Dundalk Tiny Tots Nursery LTD](/creche/dundalk-tiny-tots-nursery-ltd-dundalk.md) Dundalk - [Ferndale Creche & Montessori](/creche/ferndale-creche-montessori-drogheda.md) Drogheda - [Footprints Preschool](/creche/footprints-preschool-blackrock.md) Blackrock - [Just Kids Pre-School and Afterschool](/creche/just-kids-pre-school-and-afterschool-drogheda.md) Drogheda - [Little Nippers Playschool](/creche/little-nippers-playschool-dundalk.md) Dundalk - [Playmates Montessori St. Joseph's School](/creche/playmates-montessori-st-joseph-s-school-drogheda.md) Drogheda - [Cheeky Monkey Early Years Limited](/creche/cheeky-monkey-early-years-limited-ardee.md) Ardee - [Tus Maith Montessori School](/creche/tus-maith-montessori-school-collon.md) Collon - [Shapes and Sizes](/creche/shapes-and-sizes-dundalk.md) Dundalk - [Little Buds Playschool](/creche/little-buds-playschool-dundalk.md) Dundalk [Alert me when a new report is published](/help.md) · [Dated report on this service — €19](/report.md) --- Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/creche/dun-dealgan-childcare-dundalk/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11