Some 15 health and safety hazards uncovered at a children's residential centre had not been attended to by a health board almost a year after they were identified.
The hazards were found during an audit in January 2002 of the centre, which is run by the Northern Area Health Board.
But when the unit was inspected by a team from the Irish Social Services Inspectorate (ISSI) last November, they still had not been attended to.
The ISSI, which inspects children's homes across the State, said more than half the hazards were classed as medium-risk.
These included the very high temperature of the centre's hot-water supply and a rusty see-saw.
The centre, not named in the inspector's report published yesterday, is home to six children aged six to 14.
The children are meant to be in short-term emergency care, but a shortage of foster placements has meant they have had to stay for months or even years. The inspectors found no care plans for half of them.
Concern was also expressed at the location of the centre. The appropriateness of having it in the grounds of a hospital should be reviewed, the inspectors said.
Furthermore the "institutional" practice of making all children go to bed early in summer and winter needed to be reviewed.
The report also noted that Garda clearance for four staff was not obtained until after they had taken up duty, and five members of staff entered employment before any references were received.
"This is not satisfactory. Existing gaps must be made good, and the line manager must ensure that proper vetting procedures are followed in the future," it said.
Long delays were experienced by the centre in accessing the health board's maintenance section. A shower could not be used for a year while the centre waited for a new door.
However, inspectors found the staff to be warm and caring and commended them for their interest in the children's education. Children, they said, were responded to with sensitivity and patience.
The health board, in a statement last night, said it welcomed the report.
It was not always possible to have a written care plan for each child before admission because of the emergency nature of the service.
"Our board acknowledges that while it is not ideal to have a children's centre in the grounds of a hospital the location has worked out well in meeting the needs of the children placed there, and there is a very positive relationship and close co-operation between the care staff in the centre and hospital management and staff," it added.
Furthermore, it said, it had been health board policy since last year that all staff be cleared by gardaí before taking up duty in children's homes. The staff who did not have clearance had been employed in 2001.
In relation to the five staff who took up duty before any written references were received, the health board said verbal references were obtained.
"The inspectors referred to eight medium- and seven low-risk hazards identified by a health and safety officer.
"The majority of these issues have been addressed, and any remaining issues are being dealt with," the statement said.