Regulation 22 in Galway
Food and Drink: 5 non-compliance(s) in the latest reports we read.
An inspection records what inspectors saw on one day; services respond with corrective actions — how to read this.
28 January 2026
Naíonra Mhaigh Cuilinn, Maigh Cuilinn · Regulation 22 — Food and drink
- At variance with the service healthy eating policy and the operation of a part time service where children attend up to five hours a day. 1. Nine of 17 children who stayed for the part time service were not offered a second meal or an adequate alternative healthy meal with appropriate food groups as recommended by the Nutrition Standards for Early Learning and Care Service (2023). It is recommended that all children attending a sessional service are provided with one meal and one snack while a part time service are provided with two meals and one snack during the 5-hour period. 2. There was no evidence of a 3-week menu plan on display in the part time service
Provider's corrective action:
- On the 27/02/2026 the registered provider advised of the following. Corrective and Preventive Action 1. The parents and guardians of the children have been contacted to provide enough food for two meals- a snack and larger meal. The parents have been advised to label the food accordingly for the children. The preschool will ensure they have food available for any child who requires extra food. 2. A 3-week menu plan has been recorded and the service will ensure each child has an adequate nutritional intake while attending the service
14 November 2025
Sea Garden Childcare, Leenane · Regulation 22 — Food and drink
- 1. Adequate and suitable, nutritious and varied food was not provided at the evening meal for a child who had attended the service on a full day care basis. A rice cake was provided and when the early years inspector asked if additional food was being served a few raisins with water was provided to the child. The staff advised that rice cakes, crackers or raisins are provided as a snack at approximately 16.00 most evenings. A child in full day care requires at least 2 meals and 2 snacks if attending on a full day care basis. 2. A 3-week menu plan was not available. There was no evidence to demonstrate how the service ensures that food and drinks provided are suitable, sufficient, nutritious and varied whether they are provided by the service or from the child’s home as per best practice guidelines in HSE Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Pre-School Services. It was acknowledged that there was a schedule with daily dinners on the wall in the service (this was the main hot meal of the day)
Provider's corrective action:
- On the 23/12/2025 the registered provider advised of the following. Corrective and Preventive Action 1. Clear procedures will be established to ensure that food provided from home, where applicable, also aligns with healthy eating guidelines. Ongoing guidance and training will be provided to staff on children’s nutrition, portion sizes and full day care food requirements. Management will carry out regular reviews of menus and food provision practices to ensure continued compliance with regulatory standards. 2. A 2-week menu plan will be implemented, detailing all meals and snacks provided by the service, ensuring variety, nutritional balance and age appropriateness. The menus will be developed in line with the HSE Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Pre-School Services and will be displayed and made available to all staff and parents
2 October 2025
Millbrook Creche, Tuam · Regulation 22 — Food and drink
- ECCE Room 2 1. The children’s lunch boxes were stored on a low-level shelf. Perishable foods such as cheese, yogurt and meat sandwiches were not stored in the refrigerator as per safe food guidelines and thus posed a food safety risk to the children. 2. The healthy eating policy of the service listed several foods that were prohibited for the children to include in their lunch box. On the day of inspection, the following foods were included in 4 of children’s lunches- jelly sweets, high sugar cereal bars, marshmallow sweets, mini cookies, chocolate pastry and grapes. This practice was at variance with the healthy eating policy of the service
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered providers stated the following in their reply: Corrective and Preventive Action 1. Perishable foods are now placed in the fridge and staff have been informed that this is the correct action going forward. 2. A notice was sent to all parents again regarding our Healthy Eating Policy together with a copy of the Policy. Staff will monitor the contents of the children’s lunch boxes going forward
19 February 2025
Bright Minds Preschool, Salthill · Regulation 22 — Food and drink
- (1) The service was found to be operating outside of its registration status and the following details were recorded: (a) Type of service registered - sessional service. Written records and practice showed evidenced that the service was operating on a part-time/full day care basis. Attendance records from the week beginning 03 February 2025 evidenced that the service was operating with 2 sessional, 16 part-time and 8 full day care children. In addition, attendance records from the week beginning 23 October 2023 indicated that the service was operating on a part-time basis with 8 children staying on until 14:00. (b) Number of children registered was 22. Written records indicated that there were 27 children on the attendance book on the day of inspection, average daily attendance on week beginning 17 February 2025 was recorded as 26 children. A referral to Better Start quality development service, was made on 20/2/2025, with the permission of the registered provider. Acknowledgments The inspectors wish to acknowledge the cooperation of the registered provider, deputy, staff and children who were present on the day of the inspection
19 February 2025
Bright Minds Preschool, Salthill · Regulation 22 — Food and drink
- The following points were contrary to the service’s healthy eating policy: 1. The requirement of two meals, one of which should be hot, for the six children remaining on a full day care basis was not met. While the inspectors observed two snacks being served at 10:45 and 13:00, the registered provider and staff were unaware of the food requirements for children availing of full day care. While corn cakes were offered there was no other alternative foods available in the service should the children be hungry or not like their snacks. 2. Water was not available at all times. Water bottles were observed in use at snack times only and were noted to be taken out and returned to the children’s bags after each snack. 3. There was no cutlery available for the children to use in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. The requirement of two meals, one of which should be hot, for the six children remaining on a full day care basis no longer applies as the service has reverted to a sessional service. 2. Water bottles have been put into a tray on a work top at the children’s level ensuring the children can access water while present in the service. 3. Cutlery is now available for the children to access at snack time, if required