# Tír na nÓg, Newbridge — inspection reports and findings > Tír na nÓg (Newbridge, Co. Kildare): what Tusla inspections found — 4 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Tír na nÓg Sessional · 0 - 6 Years · Newbridge, Kildare · Tusla ID **TU2015KE083** · Registered since 1 January 2026 An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md). #### Inspection of 16 April 2026 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - Infection Control: 1. Hand washing practices were inadequate to prevent the spread of infection in the Wobbler room as follows: • Children’s hands were not washed before mealtimes and after outdoor play. • A staff member did not wash their hands before and after nappy changes. • Children’s hands were not washed following nappy changes. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - Infection Control: -Staff Meeting was held immediately following the inspection to review handwashing requirements and infection control procedures. -All staff in received refresher training on handwashing for both themselves & children. -Spot checks by management are being done on a weekly basis to ensure compliance with handwashing procedures. -Extra handwashing posters have been put up in both care room & bathroom Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 26, 30. #### Inspection of 8 April 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) **Immediate action notice.** An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered provider on the 8th April 2025 in respect of ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - International Police vetting was not available for one adult who had lived outside the State for a period exceeding 6 months as an adult. (3) The procedures specified in paragraph (2) of regulation 9 were not completed prior to two adults commencing work in the service as detailed under (2)(d) and (2)(a)(b) one staff members references had not been verified prior to them commencing work in the service - We have put in our student checklist that police clearance is essential if you have lived outside of Ireland for more than 6 months. No student will be allowed to commence work experience unless they have the correct police clearance if applicable - Our new policy states that no student is to commence work experience without all of their relevant documents provided, including police clearance if applicable. No staff member to commence employment without all the relevant documents provided and two written references verified via phone call prior to them starting ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. On day two of inspection the entrance gate to the service was open on the inspector’s arrival. The inspectors brought this to the managers attention and the gate was locked immediately. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the service on the 8th April 2025. 2. A trailing cable was in reach of the children in the cot room of Unit 1. The above non-compliance was found on the last inspection dated 14th October 2025. The corrective and preventive actions taken by the registered provider did not prevent the non-compliance from re-occurring. 3. There were a number of trip hazards in the artificial surfacing in the outdoor area including a large hole and parts of the surfacing was lifting and frayed creating a trip hazard. Infection Control: 4. There was no system in place for mouthing toys in Unit 2. Children were observed mouthing toys and staff did not take them and place them in the box provided. The above non-compliance was found on the last inspection dated 14th October 2025. The corrective and preventive actions taken by the registered provider did not prevent the non-compliance from re-occurring. 5. A child was observed picking up other children’s drinks and drinking from them. The inspector had to alert the staff member to this which posed a risk of cross contamination. 6. The handtowels in Unit 7 were not contained in a dispenser and handed to children when they were drying their hands. This poses a risk of cross contamination. 7. Pedal bins were not available in all units in the service. Children were observed handling bin lids. This poses a risk of cross contamination. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. Signs were put up on the gate, a message was sent to all parents and staff to ensure gate is closed properly at all times. We have put random gate checks on our daily planner and the service check and sign this 3/4 times daily. The service will keep the signs on the gate and will continue to do random gate checks. The area is covered by CCTV camera which allows staff to check it remotely from the office to ensure it remains closed at all times. The service also emailed the immediate action notice reply on 08th April 2025 & received a reply on 10th April 2025. 2. Maintenance to check all rooms for trailing cables & ensure that they are covered. The service has ensured all trailing cables are covered. Maintenance have been told to check regularly to ensure trailing cables are covered. 3. The area is being re-surfaced on the 3rd June 2025. The service will ensure the safety & upkeep of the artificial grass once it’s put down. At present the service have limited the numbers in the garden at any one time until the new grass is put down. Infection Control: 4. Management had meeting with staff in unit 1 to reiterate this non-compliance. Unit 1 staff were sent infection control policy and told to reread the policy and sign that they understood the policy and will use the system we have in place for mouthed toys to prevent cross contamination. Management will monitor this on a daily basis at random times. 5. Management had meeting with staff in unit 4. Unit 4 staff were sent infection control policy and told to reread the policy and sign that they understood the policy and will use the system we have in place for sterilisation to prevent cross contamination. The service will ensure that all staff do not allow children drink out of other children’s bottles but if this happens, we will ensure that the bottle is sterilised before we give it back to the child who owns it. 6. Since inspection we have put up a hand towel dispenser to reduce the risk of cross contamination. The service will ensure we have hand towels in all bathrooms & sanitary areas. 7. Pedal bins were bought for where they were needed. The service will ensure that we have pedal bins in all areas and that we have spare pedal bins in storage if needed ##### Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements - (1)(2) The registered provider did not ensure that there was adequate clear floor space available to the children in Unit 3. Staff stated that eleven children attend that care room on a full day care basis on a Thursday and Friday of each week. The inspector reviewed attendance records which demonstrated that there was inadequate space available each day in these rooms which was occupied by children aged over 3 years attending on a full day care basis. The maximum floor space available to children was 19.31sqm. This allowed for 8 children aged over 3 years on a full day care basis - The service reduced the ratio to 8 full time children after 12.15pm on Thursday & Friday. Going forward we will only have 8 full time children in unit 3 from 7.15-9.15am and 12.15 – 6.30pm Monday to Friday Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 16, 19, 25, 26. #### Inspection of 14 October 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) **Immediate action notice.** Immediate Action Notice An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered providers on 15 October 2024, under regulation 23 - Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child. A response was received by the inspectorate on 16 October 2024 which was deemed to mitigate the risk identified. ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (2)(a)(b) There were no records relating to references available for one staff member. (2)(d) The required international police vetting document was not available for one staff member who had been recruited since the previous inspection - 2(a)(b) The service has received two written references and verified these by telephone. Before a new staff member commences employment, the service will always ensure two written and verified references are on file. 2(d)The required international police vetting is now on file. Our new policy ensures that no new staff member can start employment without police and criminal clearance if they have lived out of the country for more than six months ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. Trailing cables were observed beside two cots in Unit 1 where they could be reached by children if they were placed to sleep in the cots, posing a risk of injury. It is acknowledged that these were removed when brought to the attention of staff by the inspectors. Infection Control: 2. There were no paper towels available in the sanitary facilities of Units 1, 4, and 7 for hand drying. Inspectors observed staff using toilet paper, stored on a windowsill, to dry both their own and the children's hands after nappy changing posing a risk of cross-contamination. 3. The pedal-operated bins used for nappy disposal were too narrow, preventing staff from disposing of nappies without touching the bins. Inspectors observed staff pushing nappies into the bins by hand, increasing the risk of cross-contamination. 4. There was no system in place in the Wobbler room (Unit 1) for removing and cleaning toys which had been mouthed by the children. The inspector observed children passing these toys between one another and staff placing them back on shelves, creating a risk of cross-infection. 5. The tables used for meals and activities in Unit 1 (ECCE room) had a significant amount of sticky residue left from removed tape, making it difficult to properly clean them for infection control purposes. 6. The plastic covering on the soft seating in Unit 1 (ECCE room) and Unit 4 was significantly torn, exposing the inner fabric. As a result, the seating could not be adequately cleaned for infection control purposes. Administration of Medication: 7. Appropriate measures were not in place to ensure the safe management of a child who may require emergency medication in the event of a potential anaphylactic reaction. Staff informed the inspectors that the child might need an inhaler and auto injector due to potential anaphylaxis. However, the following concerns were noted: • No letter was available from the child’s GP or consultant confirming the child’s condition and required medication, as per the medication administration policy. • No written parental or guardian consent was available for administering medication, contrary to the medication administration policy. • Only one auto injector was available, while two is the standard requirement for anaphylaxis treatment. • The inhaler was stored without its original packaging or proper labelling identifying the child for whom it was prescribed. • The child’s care plan was incomplete, lacking critical details such as the name of one medication, signs indicating when medication is needed, appropriate actions, and instructions on when to contact emergency services. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered providers on 15 October 2024 due to the significant risk posed. A response was received from the registered providers on 16 October 2024 which was deemed to mitigate the risk. 8. The management of medication for a second child posed a risk to the child's health and safety in the event the medication was needed. A care plan was not available to guide staff on when to administer the inhaler or what actions to take if the medication proved ineffective. Additionally, the child's inhaler was improperly stored in their bag, contrary to the medication administration policy, which specified that inhalers should not be stored in children's bags. 9. Four records of medicine which had been recently given to children attending the Wobbler room (Unit 1) were reviewed. Written consent from parents/guardians was not available for medications administered in two of the records. This was at variance with the medication administration policy, which stated that staff are not permitted to give medicine without written permission. 10. It was not clear that parents/guardians were properly informed when medication had been administered, potentially impacting the continuation of care. Of the four records reviewed, none had been signed by a parent/guardian upon collection. This was inconsistent with the medication administration policy, which requires parents/guardians to sign to confirm they were informed of the dosage given when collecting their child. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. The cot was moved out of reach and the cables have been enclosed with conduit. The service will make sure any trailing cables will be enclosed with conduit in future. Infection Control: 2. Paper hand towels have been put into each bathroom. Management spoke to all staff members regarding cross contamination and the importance of avoiding this. A stock take will be done more frequently to ensure an adequate supply of paper towels going forward. One person has been designated this role to ensure all paper towel holders are refilled as required. 3. New pedal operated bins have been purchased for each nappy changing area. 4. Management had a meeting with the staff in the wobbler room regarding the importance of cleaning toys. A basin with sterilising tablets has been put into the room. 5. The table has been cleaned thoroughly and the sticky residue was removed. Tape will not be used on the tables in future to prevent this recurring. 6. The couches have been removed from the rooms and replaced with soft matting. Administration of Medication: 7. The child was collected from the service and did not return until all the relevant information was received. The service now has a letter from the child’s GP; a letter of consent from the child’s parents; two new auto injectors; a new inhaler and a new care plan. All medicines have been stored correctly. Any child who requires specific medication on site will have a new care plan documented, and all relevant information will be available on the child’s file. 8. A care plan is now available for this child. The child’s parents provided an inhaler to be kept onsite which has been stored correctly. All children with medical requirements will have a new care plan implemented and monitored. 9. A meeting was held with staff around the importance of administering medicine and ensuring parental consent is received. Staff re-read the medication administration policy and have agreed to adhere to the practices on an ongoing basis. No medication will be administered without written consent and the proper care plan in place. All medication must come in the original packaging with a clear prescription. This will be closely monitored as part of the Managers weekly classroom review and staff will be reminded of it on an ongoing basis and as part of the monthly and quarterly meetings. 10. All staff have been instructed that parents/guardians must be informed of any medicine given to their child and request parents/guardians sign the medicine record upon collection of their child Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 25, 27. ### Earlier inspections - 27 May 2024 — Inspection Report · PDF ### Other services in Kildare - [Toad Hall Childcare](/creche/toad-hall-childcare-kildare.md) Kildare - [Tots Creche and Day care Nursery Ltd.](/creche/tots-creche-and-day-care-nursery-ltd-newbridge.md) Newbridge - [Tots Creche & Daycare Nursery Limited](/creche/tots-creche-daycare-nursery-limited-prosperous.md) Prosperous - [Weston Primary Montessori](/creche/weston-primary-montessori-leixlip.md) Leixlip - [Apple Tree Creche](/creche/apple-tree-creche-naas.md) Naas - [Celbridge Montessori School](/creche/celbridge-montessori-school-celbridge.md) Celbridge - [Jo's Playschool](/creche/jo-s-playschool-ardclough.md) Ardclough - [The Learning Tree](/creche/the-learning-tree-newbridge.md) Newbridge - [Smiley Faces Killashee](/creche/smiley-faces-killashee-naas.md) Naas - [Oak Park Maap Childcare](/creche/oak-park-maap-childcare-naas.md) Naas [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/tir-na-nog-newbridge/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11