Relief for Kilkenny parents as Government grants local creches a reprieve on new fire rules

Kilkenny parents wondering if they would have childcare facilities to send their children to in the New Year can relax after the Government offered a reprieve to creches over new fire safety rules.

Creches in Kilkenny were under pressure to have mandatory documentation in place by December 12, including obtaining fire certificates.

The Government has now delayed the completion of these requirements until June 30 next year, meaning local creches have another six months to comply with the new requirements.

Tusla, the family and child agency, this week contacted creches to inform them they are still required to provide documentation in regards insurance and Garda vetting. The letter explained to childcare facilities, there is still a requirement to undergo a fire risk assessment and obtain a fire certificate, but the deadline for this has been put back until next June. This allows creches time to carry out alterations, if instructed to do so by fire safety officers.

This reprieve for creches comes on the back of the closure notice handed down to four creches in Dublin yesterday. This news was welcomed by a Kilkenny TD who said: “The safety and well-being of children must be paramount at all times.”

Kilkenny TD, Kathleen Funchion, who is Sinn Féin’s Children and Youth Affairs spokesperson, she said the move by Tulsa is a “step forward.”

“The news that Tusla has moved against Hyde and Seek and issued four of the branches with notices to close from December 31st is very welcome.

“It is an important step forward for Tusla in how they approach and manage situations like this. I have met with numerous parents of Hyde and Seek, since the airing of the RTÉ investigates programme, and challenged Tusla to take more action against these crèches when they appeared before the Oireachtas Children and Youth Affairs Committee.

“I am delighted that they have taken this step.”