Please refer to Early Years (Pre School) Inspectorate section of the Tusla Website for information on the Pre-School Regulations, Registration, Inspection Reports and other useful information in relation to the provision and inspection of Early Years (Childcare) Services.
We have linked some of this information below.
Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 become operational on 30th June 2016.
Tusla has produced a question and answer document on the above regulations. It was developed following briefing sessions that the Early Years Inspectorate had with the sector in May and June 2016. Questions gathered came from providers, city & county childcare committees and from stakeholder groups. See the full Regulations 2016 Q & A.
The Early Years Inspectorate has developed a Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF), to support registered Early Years Services to comply with the 2016 Regulations. The QRF does this by setting out the core regulatory requirements in a transparent way, bringing together evidence-based, national and international research and best practice in Early Years. The QRF aims to support registered providers in achieving compliance with the regulations and enhance the safety and care of children who attend these services. The QRF is child-centred, with a specific focus on the quality and safety of the care provided directly to children using the services.
Tusla Early Years Inspectorate, in collaboration with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, launched the Quality and Regulatory Framework on Wednesday the 5th of September 2018 in Dublin.
There is a QRF relevant to all services below. Full list of QRF can be found here.
Early-Years Education-focused Inspections (EYEI) are carried out in early-years services participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme – a programme which provides a period of free early childhood care and education for children before they start school.
During these inspections, the quality of the nature, range and appropriateness of the early educational experiences for children participating in the ECCE Programme is evaluated.
The main activity of an EYEI inspection is the observation, by the inspector, of the processes and practices relating to children’s learning in one or more learning rooms or areas in the early-years setting.
At the end of each inspection the early-years practitioners and the owners/managers (where available) are given with feedback on the quality of educational provision in the setting. Subsequently we send a written report to the pre-school inspected outlining the inspection findings and providing advice as to how educational provision in the setting can be further developed or improved.
The inspection report is published on the Department of Education and Skills website and on the website of The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Under Regulation 9 Management and Recruitment of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years’ Services) Regulations 2016 all staff members or any persons in direct contact with children in an early years’ service must secure Garda Vetting Disclosure before employment/access commences. This includes Special Needs Assistants (SNA) employed by parents or the service, students, unpaid workers, contractors and members of Board of Management. Those who have lived in another country for more than six consecutive months must provide police vetting from the country in which they resided.
The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 (No. 47 of 2012) makes provision for the protection of children and vulnerable persons and it provides for the establishment and maintenance of a national vetting bureau (children and vulnerable persons) database system. This provides for the establishment of procedures that are to apply, in respect of persons who wish to undertake certain work or services or activities relating to children or vulnerable persons. The National Vetting Bureau Children & Vulnerable Persons Act, 2012 commenced on 29th April 2016. From the 29th April 2016 it is a criminal offence not to have Garda vetting disclosure when working with children and vulnerable adults.
The new Garda Vetting system has been designed to strengthen and streamline compliance processes to improve efficiencies for everyone. The updates will affect how employers, childminders, and employees apply for or renew their Garda Vetting applications.
The priority is to safeguard children, keeping them safe in all settings throughout Ireland.
Starting from 1 February 2025, the following changes will take effect:
There is no need to reapply for Garda vetting if your current vetting is still valid (dated within the last three years). The recent changes only affect the process of where you apply for Garda vetting – for employees and for registered providers, or chairpersons of boards of management (if they are the registered provider). If your Garda Vetting is dated within the last three years, it remains valid, unless there has been a change in your employment status.
For vetting of employees:
From 4th February 2025, Tusla commenced providing the Garda Vetting Application Service for people who are Registered Providers of Early Years Services (including Childminders) or those applying for registration.
It is important to be aware that the people who can apply for Garda Vetting through Tusla is restricted to the following:
Vetting for other staff members must be obtained from Early Childhood Ireland
To support Registered Providers and Childminders see the Garda Vetting section on the Tusla website along with a Guidance Document, a Frequently Asked Questions Document and pathway infographic. Additional information is available on the DCEDIY website Garda Vetting for the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare (SAC) sector
Early Childhood Ireland (ECI) manage Garda Vetting services for all early learning and care, and school-age childcare employees.
Tusla manage Garda Vetting services for registered providers including Chairpersons of Boards of Management.
Those who have lived in another country for more than six consecutive months may find out more information from the Embassy of that country.
New Garda Vetting procedure communication 5th December, 2024
Garda Vetting Update: Vetting requirements for students – Early Childhood Ireland
Childcare Act 1991 Early Years Services Regulations 2016
Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016
Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services)(Registration of School Age Services) Regulations 2018
Tusla Garda Vetting Regulatory Notices
Accessing published inspection reports
Early Years Inspector Contact Details
First 5 Guidance during COVID-19; for up to date guidance for service providers and parents