Inspection of 2 December 2025 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on 4 December 2025 in relation to Garda vetting requirements under
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- 2(c) The registered provider had not ensured the following: There was no Garda vetting disclosure available for an adult who was present on the day of inspection and had access to children. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider. (3) The procedures as outlined in paragraph (2)(c) were not carried out prior to an adult working with or having access to children in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action 2(c) Garda vetting disclosure for 1 adult applied for and submitted. All of the staff Garda vetting has been rechecked and dates documented for renewal. (3) Onboarding documents to be checked by two managers before new employee starts. Preventive Action 2 (c) New staff checklist created and to be signed by two managers and to be checked every 3 months. (3) Staff files audit to be carried out every 3 months
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Basic needs: 1. The children in the Toddler room and Small Montessori room did not have their water bottles available to them to take a drink as desired throughout the day. In the Toddler room the children’s water bottles were stored in the fridge out of sight of the children and in the Small Montessori room the children’s water bottles were stored in their bags. The children should have water available to them to take as needed throughout the day. Physical and material environment: 2. There were no family photographs displayed or available to the children in any of the care rooms. The lack of family photographs prevented the children from using photographs as a means of maintaining links with and bridging the gap between the service and home. 3. There were no interest areas developed in the Wobbler room or the Toddler room for the children. Furthermore, there was a lack of sensory or natural materials available for the children in the Wobbler room or the Toddler room to use. There was no book/cosy area for rest and relaxation in the Diamond room or for the children to freely access or to choose a book as they wished. 4. The rest area in the Toddler room was not appropriately resourced. A blanket was placed directly on the floor with some cushions provided, this area was not encouraging to the children or comfortable to use if the children chose to take a break from activities during the day. 5. There were no supporting play materials available for the 2 wooden play kitchens in the outdoor play area to enable the children to extend their play
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action Basic needs: 1. Water bottles station created in Toddler & Small Montessori room for easy access for the children. Physical and material environment: 2. All rooms have redone the family photo book and are easily accessible for the children. 3. New materials have been bought, set up and rooms rearranged in the Wobbler room and Toddler room. 4. The cosy area in the Toddler room has been redone and new materials bought and set up. 5. Kitchens have been restocked with play sand and new outdoor equipment bought and distributed. Preventive Action Basic needs: 1. Staff reminded that water stations are to be used always, daily checks to be done to ensure compliance. Physical and material environment: 2. Weekly checks to be done on rooms to ensure compliance. Management reviews to measure progress. 3&4. Management reviews to measure progress. 5. Management reminded staff about the importance of setting up the garden before use and keeping materials topped up. Management to monitor progress
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- Administration of Medication: 1. The services administration of medication policy was observed not to be followed as evidenced by medication administration forms that were reviewed in the Full day care Montessori room: • A form that was used to record medication administration to a child on 6 occasions was incomplete. The form was predominantly signed by one staff member only when the requirement was for 2 staff members to sign the form. Furthermore, parental signatures were obtained to confirm the parent was aware a child had medication administered for 3 of the 6 occasions medication was administered. This one form was used to record medication administered on the 31/10/25, 3/11/25, 4/11/25, 5/11/25, 6/11/25, and the 7/11/25. • Staff reported that parents of children who require medication administered in the service inform staff member’s verbally that the child require medication and staff members completed the administration of medication form. A medicine consent form was not completed by the parents in advance of their children receiving medication. The services Medications policy states “parents/guardians must fill in the medicine consent form of the service authorising the administration of medication (prescription or nonprescription) to their child. Staff cannot give medicine unless written permission is given”. The current practice is at variance to the service policy. • A child for whom medication was available to be administered in the service in the event of an emergency did not have the medication included on a care plan or an administration of medication form completed in advance of potential administration. • There was no inhaler kept in the service for a child who required one in the event of an emergency in the Sessional Montessori room. There was no completed health care plan with parents’ signature to accompany this. Infection Control: 2. Infection control measures were not always followed. The possible risk of the spread of infection was increased due to the following: • The children attending the Wobbler room did not have their hands washed before snack time. • The children in the Toddler room did not have their hands washed after they had their nappies changed between 11:45am and 12 midday or before they ate their dinner. 3. The required space of 50cm was not maintained between 6 sleep mats which were located on the floor of the Toddler room for children to sleep. 4. Bags of materials were stored on the ledges behind the toilets and on the windowsills and floor in the sanitary facilities located directly off the Full day care Montessori room. This is an infection control risk. Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective Action Administration of Medication: 1. Staff meeting to retrain all staff on policy and procedure regarding administration of medicine. Infection Control: 2. Staff meeting to retrain all staff on policy and procedure of handwashing and infection control. 3. Staff meeting with toddler staff to ensure the correct distance between beds. Set area for beds designated. 4. Ledges cleared and designated space created for overflow of materials. Preventive Action Administration of Medication: 1. Daily checks of forms for all children who are on medication. Infection Control: 2. Sporadic checks to ensure non-compliance is corrected. 3. Daily checks to ensure policies are being followed. 4. New space created for overflow of materials. Supporting documentation submitted • Photograph of window ledges in sanitary facilities. Summary Comment The inspector has reviewed the actions and evidence submitted. The non-compliances under Regulation 23 have been addressed and will be reviewed at the next inspection of the service
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (d) The registered provider did not ensure that the premises was being maintained in an appropriate condition as evidenced by the following: 1. The paint on the wall in the Wobbler Room was peeling with plaster exposed underneath. 2. The floor in the Wobbler Room was torn with the floor exposed underneath and therefore this was unable to be cleaned. 3. There was 1 toilet that was out of order across the corridor and used by the sessional Montessori room
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action (d) 1. Wobbler room repainted. 2. New flooring ordered and awaiting to be fitted. 3. Toilet repaired. Preventive Action (d) 1. Monthly check to inspect walls throughout. 2. Monthly check to inspect floors throughout. 3. Daily check to ensure toilets are in order
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 16, 25, 26.