New childcare centres face pre-opening inspections

For the first time new creches and preschools here will have to undergo inspection before they can open their doors to babies and young children.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has updated the country’s childcare regulations for the first time in 10 years.

Previously, childcare centres only had to ‘notify’ Tusla they were setting up and were not obliged to register with the inspectorate. Sometimes, it took years before they were inspected for compliance with childcare regulations.