Inspection of 3 October 2025 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. An Immediate Action Notice was issued on 3 October 2025 as a mandatory Garda vetting disclosure was not available for one adult who was working directly with children, contrary to the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012. A response was received on 6 October 2025 which was deemed to adequately address the risk.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- The registered provider did not take appropriate measures to ensure that all adults working directly with children were suitable and competent as outlined:
- (a) & (b) Appropriate consideration had not been given to references. The inspection focused on references for five adults (four staff members and one volunteer) who commenced working in the service since the previous inspection dated 19 October 2022. Adult A: There were no records to evidence any references had been considered. Adults B & C: There were no written references available. The records provided as reference verifications consisted of only a signature and date. They did not include any information to determine the suitability or competence of the adults. It was not documented how Adult C was known to their referees. Adult D: There was no address on one past employer reference. There was no record of verification for the second reference. Adult E: There was no address on one past employer reference. (c) A Garda vetting disclosure was not available for one adult (Adult A) who was working directly with the children contrary to the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012. An Immediate Action Notice was issued on 3 October 2025 due to the significant risk posed. A response was received on 6 October 2025 which was deemed to adequately address the risk. (d) International police vetting was required for one of the five adults (Adult D). The international police vetting record was not available and there was no record to show that any attempt had been made to obtain the record. (3) The procedures outlined under regulation (2)(a), (b), (c) and (d) above had not been appropriately followed prior to the registered provider allowing the adults have access to children
Provider's corrective action:
- (a) & (b) All outstanding references have been obtained and verifications carried out. A new reference check template is now being used to prevent the above happening in future. All new staff have been re-verified using this. (c) Garda vetting for the staff member has now been obtained. The service will ensure no person is allowed commence working in the setting before Garda vetting is obtained. (d) Adult D has now started the process of obtaining international police vetting. The service will ensure any staff members from other countries have vetting from their country. (3) All Garda Vetting is now up to date and provided for all staff working in the setting. Using the reference check form all references have been verified and appropriate questions documented. No staff member will be allowed work in the setting before vetting is received. The service will ensure international vetting is obtained for any staff member who has lived in another country
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: The registered provider had not taken all reasonable measures to safeguard the children from harm as outlined below: 1. Garda vetting was available for eight of the nine adults. However, one of the vetting disclosures 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. The fire exit door at the rear of the Blue room could not be easily opened. The door which had a push bar for opening also had a secured latch which was stiff and difficult to unlatch. This posed a risk of delaying the evacuation of children in the event of a fire. 3. The front entrance/exit doors to the Blue room and Red room were not appropriately secured to prevent children leaving unsupervised. The doors were secured on the inside with low level, thumb turn locks which could be opened by a child. The doors led directly onto the centre car park which had an open gate leading directly to the road. This posed a risk of injury to a child if they were to leave the service unsupervised. 4. A bottle of bleach was stored in a low, unsecured cupboard in the Blue room, posing a risk of injury to children if they were to access it. Infection Control: 5. Adequate cleaning procedures were not in place for the toys and equipment. A build up of dust and grime was observed on some of these, posing an increased risk of spreading infectious diseases among the children. 6. The plastic covering on the nappy changing mat was torn, exposing the foam padding underneath. This posed a risk of cross contamination as it could not be cleaned effectively. 7. Waste was not appropriately managed in the pre-school rooms. The pedal function on a bin in the Blue room was not working and there was no lid on one of the bins in the Red room. This posed a risk of compromising the safe disposal of waste. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting renewal has been obtained for this staff member. The service will ensure all vetting is in date by keeping a list of all dates to be easily checked. 2. The registered provider contacted the village centre about the latch on the fire door in the Blue room. The caretaker put some penetrating oil on this lock, and it now opens easily. The service will ensure this additional safety lock is easily opened to allow for easy exit and will replace when necessary. 3. The top locks on both the Red and Blue room doors are to be locked every day as per the guidance given to staff since we moved into the premises in 2018. This is done every morning but unfortunately this was not done on the day of inspection. The registered provider checked the fire report which was carried out in 2022. In section 5 it states that the playschool premises is in compliance with the Fire Sevices Act 1981 and this shows that the system we have in place is compliant with fire legislation. The registered provider checks each morning to ensure the locks are locked and is erecting signs as reminders to ensure this is done. 4. This was an oversight by staff, and the bleach is now stored up away from the children. The registered provider will ensure staff understand that no toxic products can be left in the reach of children. It has been brought up at our staff meetings. Infection Control: 5. Our cleaning schedules have been updated. I have asked the staff who stay on extra time to clean to ensure that toys and equipment are cleaned thoroughly. Each Friday a deep clean is done to ensure a dust free environment is obtained. We are complying with our cleaning policy and using the cleaning schedules as a check lists to ensure the rooms are kept clean. 6. The ripped nappy changing mat has been thrown out and two new mats have been purchased. The service will keep the changing mats clean and in good repair and replace them when necessary. 7. The bin in the Blue room has been thrown out and a new one purchased. The food bin in the Red room has been replaced with a new bin with a lid. The service will ensure all bins are in good working order and have lids
Regulation 25 — First aid
- (1) There was no person with a recognised first aid training certificate rostered to work between 12:00 and 12:15
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) The person with a recognised first aid training certificate is rostered to work until 12.30 every day. On the day of the inspection, she had an important appointment at 12.15 as this was the only time she could get. The service will ensure that this staff member makes any appointments in future after 12.15
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (1) (b) A record was not available of the number, type and maintenance of the firefighting equipment
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) (b) The certificate for the firefighting equipment has now been received from the landlord who looks after this. The registered provider has asked the landlord in future to provide these certs when the equipment is serviced so they are on file
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (c) There were black patches observed on the external wall of one of the two toilet cubicles used by the children from the Red room indicative of mould growth. This can be caused by issues with heating/insulation/ventilation and could pose a health risk to the children by triggering respiratory issues. (d) The registered provider did not ensure the premises was adequately, cleaned, maintained and repaired as outlined below. 1. A build-up of dust and grime was observed at the edges of floors in the pre-school rooms and sanitary facilities indicating inadequate cleaning procedures and posing a risk to infection control. 2. One of the taps on a sink in the sanitary area used by children in the Blue room was loose and could not be turned on. This could compromise children’s handwashing. 3. The surface of the cupboards under the sink in the sanitary area used by children from the Blue room was significantly rusted. The painted surface was also peeling and could not be adequately cleaned. 4. There were a number of holes on the wall outside the toilet cubicle used by children from the Blue room, making the surface difficult to clean. 5. The paper towel dispenser in the sanitary facility used by children in the Red room had been repaired with an extensive amount of sticky tape on the surface, making it difficult to clean
Provider's corrective action:
- (c) The toilet in the Red room has been painted and treated with mildew paint. This painting will be done each year or sooner if needed to prevent this mildew build up. (d) 1. All bathrooms have been thoroughly cleaned and any dust etc. has been removed. As part of the cleaning schedule the bathrooms will be cleaned thoroughly daily. 2. The tap in the Blue room has been brought to the attention of the landlord. The service is waiting for a date for them to replace it. The service will ensure all taps are in working order. 3. The surface under the sinks in the Blue room has been treated and covered to allow for a cleaner surface. If this new covering gets damaged it will be replaced. 4. The holes in this wall have been filled and a covering has been put up to allow for a cleaner finish. The service will ensure this surface is kept clean and replace if necessary. 5. A new paper towel dispenser has been erected to replace the old one. The service will replace the dispensers if they break as soon as possible
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 27.