Regulation 26 in Cork
Fire safety measures: 32 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.
9 June 2026
Naionra Chuain Bhaoi, Bantry · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (a) Fire drill record indicated that fire drills were not taking place monthly. The fire drill record indicated that the last fire drill took place on the 24 March 2026
Provider's corrective action:
- (a) A monthly fire drill schedule has now been put in place to ensure fire drills are completed and recorded consistently. Staff have been reminded of the importance of monthly fire drills and maintaining accurate records. Fire drill records will be reviewed regularly as part of ongoing health and safety monitoring within the service
2 June 2026
Willowtree Childcare Ltd, Ballinspittle · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (a) The registered provider has kept a written log of fire drills which, upon inspection showed that the last recorded fire drill took place on the 14 April 2026. There was no record of a fire drill carried out in November and December of 2025, and no record of a fire drill carried out in May 2026. Failure to adequately prepare children and staff for the occurrence of a fire poses a risk to the children’s safety. (b) Evidence available on inspection showed the fire extinguishers in the service were last serviced in April of 2025. Failure to properly maintain firefighting equipment, by annual servicing poses a risk to the safety of the children in the event of a fire
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) (a) In her written response the registered provider outlined how fire drills would be recorded monthly in future. (1) (b) The registered provider stated that the fire extinguishers had been serviced previously, but a certificate had not been received. The registered provider has had the fire extinguishers reinspected
18 May 2026
Naíonra na Mara, Chionn Tsáile · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b) A record of servicing dated within the previous 12 months, was unavailable for the smoke alarm. This is required to ensure efficient functioning of the smoke detection and alarm system, in the event of a fire
Provider's corrective action:
- The fire detection and alarm system inspection certificate has been obtained. As a preventive measure, an annual audit of the fire safety records will be carried out to ensure full compliance
6 May 2026
Emma’s Playschool, Ballinhassig · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (a) While it was acknowledged that a fire drill had been undertaken on 27 April 2026, monthly fire drills were not consistently conducted. There were no fire drills recorded for the months of October 2025 or February 2026. The registered provider had advised of this, prior to presenting the records for review. Fire drills should be conducted on a monthly basis, to ensure that children and staff members are familiar with safe fire evacuation procedures
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider recently completed fire marshal safety training and going forward, will ensure that fire drills are carried out on a monthly basis. As a preventive measure, reminders have been added to the school diary and to the laptop, for each month. This will ensure that monthly fire drills will not be missed in future
13 April 2026
An Tobar Eolais Montessori, Clonakilty · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b) Records indicated that the fire extinguishers were not serviced on an annual basis. The recorded date of when the fire extinguishers were last serviced was in August 2024
Provider's corrective action:
- (b)In the corrective and preventative written response, (CAPA) the registered provider stated that the fire extinguishers in the service were serviced on the 13 May 2026. The registered provider stated that the fire extinguishers will be serviced on an annual basis
13 April 2026
Fermoy Community Preschool and Afterschool CLG, Fermoy · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b) The service had no records available of maintenance carried out on the smoke alarm systems. This posed a safety risk to both staff and children in the event of an emergency
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider submitted the smoke alarm maintenance certificate on the 30 April 2026. It is acknowledged that this was completed prior to the inspection date on the 27 January 2026
16 March 2026
Beginnings Creche, Cork · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (4) A fire evacuation notice was not displayed in the service. This posed a risk that staff members and visitors to the service may be unfamiliar with safe evacuation procedures, in the event of a fire
Provider's corrective action:
- The fire evacuation procedure is now clearly displayed in all rooms within the service, making it easily visible to staff and visitors. All staff will be made aware of the importance of the procedure being displayed and this will be enforced during inductions and training. Any missing or damaged procedures will be replaced immediately
5 March 2026
Allstars Preschool Ltd, Ballyphehane · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (a) While it was acknowledged that a fire drill had been undertaken on 16 February 2026, monthly fire drills were not consistently conducted. There were no fire drills recorded for the months of November or December 2025. During subsequent discussion, the registered provider confirmed that no fire drills had been carried out during these months. Fire drills should be conducted on a monthly basis, to ensure that children and staff members are familiar with safe fire evacuation procedures
Provider's corrective action:
- In her written reply, the registered provider stated that fire drills will be completed and recorded once per month. As a preventive measure, a reminder has been added to the service mobile phone, in relation to monthly fire drills
14 January 2026
Douglas Community Pre-School, Cork · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- While it is acknowledged that fire drills were carried out, they were not done so on a monthly basis. Fire drills were conducted on a room-by-room basis rather than on a whole service level. There is a risk that children would not react promptly to hearing the fire alarm in the event of an actual fire when they are not practicing on a regular basis. The last fire drill recorded in the service was in November 2025
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider stated that a new fire drill procedure has been undertaken and all children now evacuate the building at the same time. Fire drills will now be conducted monthly and overseen by the manager
2 December 2025
Springbrook Montessori, Douglas · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b) The service had no records available of maintenance carried out on the firefighting equipment since January 2023. This posed a safety risk to the children and staff present in the service in the event of a fire
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action The service contacted the relevant company to carry out the servicing on the firefighting equipment. The servicing of the firefighting equipment was carried out 13 January 2025. Preventive Action The company will now oversee all fire alarm and firefighting equipment servicing
25 November 2025
A Breath of Fresh Air Pre-School, Carrigaline · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b)The service had no records available of maintenance carried out on the smoke alarm systems since February 2024. This posed a safety risk to the children and staff present in the service in the event of a fire
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider stated in their response: Corrective Action The service contacted a fire safety company, which completed servicing on all the fire alarms on 28 November 2025. Preventive Action The service has contacted the fire safety company to arrange annual serving. The minimise the risk of human error, the service has set a reminder on the office laptop in advance of the yearly servicing, to allow for sufficient time to confirm the booking
9 October 2025
Sunny Days Montessori School, Cork · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b) The last available record for the premises of an annual maintenance of the smoke alarms was dated 17 April 2023 and certification for servicing for the firefighting equipment was dated September 2022. This poses a risk to the safety of children attending the service in the event of fire. The annual maintenance of the smoke alarms was also unavailable at the last inspection on 21 February 2023. The corrective action submitted following the inspection on 21 February 2023 failed to prevent the recurrence of this non –compliance
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement has been received by the registered provider: Corrective and Preventive Action Fire equipment has been serviced and will be serviced yearly
19 September 2025
Ballyhea Childcare Ltd., Ballyhea · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (1) (a) The fire drills were not completed monthly; no evidence of a fire drill being completed in the month of June 2025 was available. Not completing fire drills monthly may allow children not to be familiar with the process and not be able to evacuate effectively in the event of a fire. (b) The firefighting equipment (Fire extinguishers) were last serviced in July 2023. The firefighting equipment were not serviced on an annual basis as required. This may hinder their function in the event of a fire
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) (a) Fire drills are completed monthly and evidence of the drills completed in September and October have been received. A plan is in place to complete fire drills monthly. (b) The firefighting equipment has been serviced (October 2025) and the service has entered into a contract with the service company to ensure the equipment is serviced annually
10 September 2025
Réiltín Beag Montessori, Glanmire · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (a) The last recorded fire drill was noted to have taken place on 4 February 2025. Prior to this, the most recently documented fire drill date was 19 November 2024. Fire drills should be conducted on a monthly basis, to ensure that children and staff members are familiar with safe fire evacuation procedures. (b) A record of servicing dated within the previous 12 months, was unavailable for the smoke alarm. This is required to ensure efficient functioning of the smoke detection and alarm system, in the event of a fire
Provider's corrective action:
- (a) Fire drills had been carried out at the service every three months, however staff are now aware that a fire drill must be carried out every month. A reminder in relation to the monthly fire drill has been added to the calendar for the remaining school year and this task has been allocated to a member of staff. (b) The main school is responsible for the annual maintenance of the fire equipment and could not provide a record of the most recent servicing of the smoke alarms. A fire safety company has since attended the service to test and service the smoke alarms. This fire safety company will continue to carry out an annual service on the smoke alarms
4 June 2025
Scribbles Playschool, Newmarket · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (1) (a) Records of fire drills were available however the last fire drill took place on 05/03/2025. Throughout this academic year it was noted that for three months fire drills were not completed. Not completing fire drills monthly may hinder or delay the appropriate evacuation of the service in the event of a fire. (b) The fire alarm system was last serviced in November 2023, and the fire extinguishers were last serviced in June 2023. Not ensuring fire alarms and firefighting equipment is serviced on an annual basis may lead the equipment not working properly in the event of a fire
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) (a) A further fire drill was completed prior to the end of the academic year and the fire drills have been planned in advance for 2025-2026 academic year. (b) The fire alarm system was serviced on 22.07.2025. the registered provider has state that this alarm will be service annually and for service in July 2026
20 May 2025
Goleen Community Playgroup CLG, Goleen · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- There was a fire drill record template in the service. The records showed that monthly fire drill records did not take place in the service. The last fire drill that took place in the service was dated the 7 December 2024. This posed a safety risk to the children attending that the staff and children may not be clear in emergency fire evacuation procedures in the service. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- : In the corrective and preventative response (CAPA) received from the registered provider/person in charge the following was stated: Fire drills will be completed once a month and that since the inspection that the service had completed two fire drills in the service
26 March 2025
Kilmurry Pre-School, Lissarda · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b) The fire alarm and equipment servicing records were previously serviced on 25/08/2024. It is acknowledged that the registered provider had the fire alarms and firefighting equipment serviced the day after inspection
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider ensured a new company for servicing fire equipment has been identified and fire servicing was completed following inspection
18 February 2025
Early Years Educational Centre, Cobh · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b) A record of servicing, dated within the previous 12 months, was unavailable for the smoke alarm. This is required to ensure efficient functioning. The most recent maintenance record for the smoke alarm was dated 4 May 2023
Provider's corrective action:
- The smoke alarms have been checked and serviced. The relevant company that carries out the testing has scheduled the service in for yearly/monthly checks going forward
11 October 2024
Anchor Playschool Meelin, Meelin · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (a) There were no written records available of any previous fire drills that had taken place in the service. In conversation the manager stated that no fire drills had taken place since the new term commenced in September 2024 and they were awaiting templates from the registered provider. Not carrying out fire drills poses a safety risk for the adults and children in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement was received from the registered provider:
- (a) Fire drill records are now in place and staff will carry out and record monthly fire drills
24 September 2024
Brooklodge Community Playschool Limited, Glanmire · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (a) Clear and comprehensive fire drill records were unavailable. Records for the months of January to April 2024 did not include the dates that the drills were undertaken, details in relation to the numbers of children present, or the duration of the fire drills. The fire drill for May, which was documented separately within the staff meeting minutes, was also missing the aforementioned information and there were no written fire drill records for the months of June, July or September 2024. (b) Annual servicing of the wired smoke alarm was not ensured, as required. The most recent record of servicing available was dated 13 September 2022
Provider's corrective action:
- (a) A new template has been created to ensure that the date, number of children present and duration of the fire drills are included. (b) A certificate of servicing for the wired smoke alarm has been submitted. The certificate is posted on the notice board in the service, with the date that the next service is due
17 September 2024
New Beginnings Pre-school, Dunmanway · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- There was no record on file on day of inspection of when the fire alarm system was last tested and serviced in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider in her written response has stated the following: In future the service will have a copy of the most recent testing and servicing of the fire alarm system within the service
16 September 2024
Lyre Community Pre-School Playgroup CLG, Banteer · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (a) There were no records available of any fire drills carried out in the service in 2024. The manager stated that these had been misfiled and was unable to locate them on the day of the inspection
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement was made by the manager; (1) The fire drills were located and returned to their original folder. Staff have been reminded to file the fire drills in the correct folder
4 September 2024
School Around The Corner Preschool & Afterschool, Glanworth · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (a) Written records of fire drills indicated that the fire drills were not carried out on a regular basis. The last fire drill was recorded on 24 April 2024 with the previous fire drill dated 1 February 2024. In conversation, management stated they were unaware of the requirement to carry out monthly fire drills
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement was received from the registered provider;
- (a) Fire drills will be carried out monthly
4 June 2024
Clonakilty Montessori Pre-School, Clonakilty · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- A record of a fire evacuation procedure for the service which contained details in relation to the procedure to be followed in the event of a fire was not available for review by the inspector
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider wrote up a fire procedure notice whilst the inspector was carrying out the inspection and provided it to the inspector towards the end of the inspection
28 May 2024
Templebreedy Pre-School, Crosshaven · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b) An up-to-date annual maintenance service record regarding the firefighting equipment was not available for review. The records demonstrated that the fire equipment was last serviced on 15 February 2023
Provider's corrective action:
- (b) The manager informed the inspectorate on 17 June 2024 that the fire equipment had been serviced unknown to her on 20 February 2024. She will ensure it continues to be serviced annually and that the service certificate is available on file for review
30 April 2024
ECO Preschool, Shanagarry · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (a) Records of monthly fire drills carried out at the service during February, March and April were not available on file. A fire drill was last carried out by the service on 16 January 2024
Provider's corrective action:
- (a) A fire drill was carried out at the service on 08 May 2024. The registered provider stated in her written response submitted on 04 June 2024 that in future a fire drill will be carried out monthly at the service and details will be maintained on the fire register record
23 April 2024
Sandcastles, Upper Glanmire · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b) Annual servicing of the wired smoke alarm was not ensured, as required. The most recent record of servicing was dated 9 February 2023
Provider's corrective action:
- The written response acknowledged that the servicing was overdue and outlined that the servicing company had been delayed in attending to same. The company were contacted on the day of the inspection and called to the premises to undertake the service the following Friday
14 March 2024
Teach na nOg Montessori School, Bandon · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (1) (a) The registered provider did not ensure the regular maintenance of the fire extinguishers in line with the manufacturers guidance. The service record was dated October 2022
Provider's corrective action:
- (1)(a) The registered provider responded to state that the fire extinguishers were serviced on 20 March 2024 and a reminder placed in the school phone for scheduling their maintenance in March 2025
6 March 2024
The Children’s House Preschool, Whitechurch · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (1) (a)While there was a record of fire drills in the setting, there was no monthly drill in November 2023 or February 2024. (b) There was no recent record of the maintenance of the fire extinguishers and smoke alarms, to indicate annual or more often servicing. The records dated to 12 October 2022
Provider's corrective action:
- (1)(a) The registered provider advised that monthly fire drills will be maintained. (1)(b) The registered provider advised that the fire extinguishers and smoke alarms were serviced subsequent to inspection and will be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
29 January 2024
NICHE Health Project (Cork) CLG, T/A Hollyhill Knocknaheeny Family Centre, Cork · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (a) Monthly fire drills were not completed, as required. It was noted that a fire drill had not been undertaken during the month of December 2023
Provider's corrective action:
- The response submitted outlined that December’s fire drill was missed due to human error and that the service usually practice monthly fire drills. As a preventive measure, a fire drill roster has been set up and an alarm has been set on the service mobile phone, to remind management of the dates chosen
23 January 2024
Watergrasshill Preschool and Afterschool Care, Watergrasshill · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b) There was no recent written record available of the number, type and maintenance of the smoke alarms. This was in conflict with the service’s Fire Safety Policy which stated “…smoke detectors serviced yearly.” The last certificate was dated October 2023
Provider's corrective action:
- (b) The smoke alarms were serviced on 23 January 2024
1 February 2023
Stepping Stones Montessori, Cork · Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (1b) A record of the number, type and maintenance of the smoke alarms was not available on file
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider responded to state that the service will conduct monthly checks on the smoke alarm and annual checks will be conducted by a professional alarm maintenance company