Pobal Compliance

Pobal is contracted, on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) , to conduct compliance visits with each participating childcare service that operates one or more of the National Childcare Programmes.

In order to make compliance visits as efficient as possible for both providers and visit officers, service providers should ensure their compliance file is kept up to date and contains:

Attendance records
Enrolment details (including minimum enrolment exemption where relevant)
Parental declaration forms (for any exemption requests submitted)
Parent letters (signed)
Fee records
Staff qualifications
Higher capitation forms (if applicable)

ECCE compliance:

NCS Compliance:

Once a CHICK has been presented and childcare hours have been agreed, a NCS agreement must be physically signed and dated on the same day by both the service provider and the parent and both should retain a copy.

The below document offers guidance on the content of written NCS agreements with parents who receive subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme.

Guidance on NCS Agreements with Parents

Pobal recommend that services keep an easily accessible Compliance file on–site, and they issue a Provider File Checklist to assist in the collation of relevant information for the visit.

The purpose of the Compliance Visit is to verify:

The children who have been registered with the DCEDIY under one of the childcare programmes are actually enrolled in and attending the service.
The service is implementing the correct Fee Payment Policy.
The Fee Payment Policy, Parent Letters (where applicable) and Calendars (where applicable) are displayed in the service and that a copy signed by the parent/guardian of each child is on file.
Records are maintained of optional extra charges, deposits, voluntary donations and/or fees for additional hours and are in accordance with the Fee Payment Policy of the service.
The service can show the qualifications of all staff working directly with children.

Compliance Guide for Service Providers

In November 2019 Pobal published Compliance Guide for Service Providers (Nov 2019) which provides further information on Compliance Visits, click on the cover below.

To Compliance and Beyond

To Compliance and Beyond is also a very useful resource produced by Dublin City Childcare Committee. It is a guide for Early Years providers and practitioners to provide information that can support you in achieving compliance with general practice, regulations, health and safety, funding and employment legislation. Click on the cover below.

Leitrim County
Childcare Committee