Suspension and cancellation of licences

(1) A licence may be suspended by the Registrar for the reasons specified in subregulation (2) below. (2) The reasons referred to in subregulation (1) above areSocial Service Agencies 17 (a) failure to display the licence as required by these Regulations; (b) failure to open, keep and maintain such records, registers and books in relation to the operation of the day care facility, including the particulars of children and staff, as required under the Act and these Regulations; (c) failure to provide information requested by the Registrar within the time limit specified in such request; (d) failure to ensure that premises are maintained and kept in accordance with minimum standards provided in these Regulations; and (e) failure to protect children attending the operator’s day care facility from abuse of whatever kind. (3) Without prejudice to subregulations (2) above, a licence may also be suspended by the Registrar where– (a) there are reasonable grounds for believing that the operator or provider of the day care facility has committed a sexual or other criminal offence which is of such a nature as is likely, in the opinion of the Registrar, to render such operator or provider unfit to hold the licence; or (b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that a staff member has committed a sexual or other criminal offence as aforesaid, and that the operator or provider has failed to take prompt disciplinary action against such a staff member so as to ensure that such incidents do not recur. 18 Social Service Agencies (4) The suspension of an operator’s licence under these Regulations shall not exceed six calendar months, and the operator shall, within the period of suspension, be expected to take necessary steps to correct and address the reasons for the suspension to the satisfaction of the Registrar. (5) If an operator corrects and addresses the reasons for the suspension during the period of the suspension to the satisfaction of the Registrar, his licence shall automatically, without application on his part, be reinstated upon the expiry of the suspension, but if he fails to take the necessary steps during the period of the suspension, his licence may be cancelled by the Registrar upon the expiration of the suspension. (6) Where a licence has been cancelled, a new application for a licence by the same operator shall only be entertained by the Registrar after a period of six months has elapsed after the