The inspections reveal a sector struggling to keep up with basic regulations, reports John Downes
Details of the findings of more than 250 pre-school inspection reports for the HSE Southern and Western areas are being published for the first time today, following the publication in this newspaper yesterday of information on reports for the Dublin/North-East region.
All the reports were supplied after The Irish Times paid search and retrieval charges totalling €748.99. This represented half the original estimated charges from the three regions. The issues emerging in all three areas range from the relatively minor to the more serious. Frequently, they fall somewhere in between.
Problems range from doors being left open or unsecured and poor hygiene practices, to lack of awareness of current guidelines on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - and a lack of running water. Other reports found dirty or unsanitary premises, children being left with inadequate supervision or unsuitable play activities, unsafe storage of hazardous materials, inadequate fire procedures and a lack of staff training in child protection.
Inspectors were also concerned about overcrowding, unhealthy food menus, a lack of staff records or lists of persons authorised to collect children, and unsafe fixtures and fittings.
But the reports also endeavour to accentuate the positives, where possible.
They frequently outline improvements since previous inspections, and emphasise when inspectors found a friendly, child-centred approach. Nevertheless, few if any facilities were adjudged by inspectors to have complied fully with the Child Care Act.
Without doubt, the fact that some of the breaches outlined in the reports are minor enough in their nature contributes to this. For example, a report on Ashgrove Creche in Dundrum highlights the use of cloth towels (instead of paper ones) for hand-drying in both staff and children's toilets.
But, as is the case in many other reports, the same inspection also reveals other issues at the creche, such as the absence of adequate ventilation in the nappy-changing area and dirty toilets for the children.
All of these have since been addressed, according to the owner, Andrea Byrne.
Elsewhere the problems seem even more serious.
Tots and Co in St Patrick's teacher training college, Drumcondra, is criticised in one report from December 10th, 2004 over its procedures in the event of an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea. A total of 13 children and three staff members fell ill at the time.
Carol Macken, a director of the service, stressed that her staff had followed hygiene procedures, and said there was little else they could do during a particularly virulent outbreak of the "winter vomiting bug". Issues raised in the reports have been addressed, but there was a lack of consistency in inspectors' interpretation of the regulations, she added.
An inspection of Tots Playhouse, in Curryhills, Prosperous, Co Kildare, noted a number of "poor practices" including poor hand-washing by some staff after nappy-changing and young children being left waiting at tables or in high chairs for 25 minutes before being served dinner. Some staff were also unaware of current guidelines on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Una Dunne, manager of the facility, acknowledged that on the day of inspection issues of overcrowding might have contributed to some of the problems noted by inspectors. She stressed, however, that staff dealing with infants are fully qualified and fully briefed on the syndrome guidelines.
An inspection of Little Rascals pre-school in Herbert Place, Dublin, in April last year noted there was no outdoor play area and insufficient staff to facilitate trips to the park. This was "not acceptable", and the pre-school service was "not satisfactory" to meet the needs of children.
The owner of the service, Anne Marie McCormack, said the premises was maintained to the best standards. "Anything I could do, I did," she said in reference to the report's recommendations.
Small Beginnings in Capdoo, Clane, Co Kildare, was criticised for not having a fenced-in outdoor play area and for allowing electrical wires to hang low to the ground.
The manager, Joan Lyons, said appropriate fencing had since been erected and inspected by the HSE and that all wiring had been securely tied up.
So where does all this leave parents in Dublin and surrounding areas, who might understandably be worried about standards in their own child's creche? In truth, much depends on whether they agree with some of those working in the sector, who believe that inspectors can frequently be overzealous in applying the "letter of the law".
In view of the HSE's welcome plans to publish the inspection reports, however, one thing is clear. In future it will be up to parents to decide how they wish to interpret the findings of inspections, and what action, if any, to take.