Tusla Announcement: Removal of Early Years services from register

Tusla – Child and Family Agency has today announced that, as part of its commitment to greater communication in the early years sector, the agency is now taking the following steps with immediate effect:

• Publishing decisions to remove Early Years’ services from the register on Tusla’s website, tusla.ie
• Publically communicating details of deregistered services
• Consulting with parents as part of the regulatory process in 2020
• Asking providers to display their certificate of registration
• Adding date of inspection to the register of early years services to alert parents that a report is pending.

Brian, Lee, Director of Quality Assurance, Tusla, said:

“This enhanced public communication comes as a result of feedback from parents. While Tusla cannot contact parents of children in individual crèches directly, we can ensure that this information is readily and publically available to assist parents in making informed decisions.

As the regulator in this sector, Tusla’s role is to monitor the safety and quality of care and support of children in early years’ provision to ensure compliance with regulations. Where there are consistent and serious breaches, Tusla will take action up to and including prosecution and removal from the register of early years’ services.”

The decision to remove a service from the register comes at the end of an enforcement process, during which a provider is afforded fair procedures. This decision is not taken lightly, and is a last resort which is used when as regulator Tusla cannot stand over the continued operation of a service.

Today, Tusla can confirm that four Dublin based services have been notified of Tusla’s intention to proceed with removal from the register of early years’ services following the conclusion of an enforcement process. The date given for closure by Tusla is the 31st December 2019.

The services are:

• Hyde & Seek Tolka Road, Dublin
• Hyde & Seek Shaw Street, Dublin
• Hyde & Seek Millbourne Avenue, Dublin
• Hyde & Seek Glasnevin, Dublin

The provider has 21 days to appeal this decision.

Tusla acknowledges that parents will find themselves in the difficult position of finding alternative childcare providers in these areas, and has notified the Department of Children and Youth Affairs of our concerns, who are working with the local City/County Childcare Committees to make support available to parents. Tusla will expedite any applications for registration of new childcare providers in this area, or any applications for a Change in Circumstances (eg change of owner) in this area. Tusla also acknowledges the impact on staff at these services.

Where a parent is concerned about the status of, or care being provided at their early years’ service:

• Ask your service provider if they are registered;
• Ask to see a copy of the last inspection report;
• Ask for assurances about the quality of care being provided;
• Consult Tusla’s Quality Regulatory Framework
• See tips for parents on tusla webpage