JANUARY

Steering Wheel Public House, Clondalkin, Dublin

Improvement order granted by the district court in relation to a number of problems. The owners were instructed to "rodent proof" the cellar, clean the pipes in the keg coldroom and remove mould growth.

Commenting on the bar area, the order said: "The carpet in the seating area adjacent to the carvery must be replaced as it is incapable of being cleaned." All works ordered were subsequently carried out.

Junction House Take-Away, Tramore, Co Waterford

Closure order as conditions are "likely to [pose] grave and immediate danger to public health".

"A raw chicken was being stored directly above lettuce and beside peeled onions".

And perhaps of concern to vegetarians was the discovery that: "there was congealed meat on both the mincing machine and the mixer which were used to prepare the lamb kebabs. At the time of inspection, this soiled mixer was being used to mix pizza dough."

The closure order was lifted in March following works.

FEBRUARY

Nature's Finest Manufacturing Ltd (RCS Chill), North West Business Park, Dublin

Closure order following the discovery of "very large quantities of high-risk foodstuffs, contaminated with extensive mould growth, in addition to extremely poor standards of operational hygiene, filthy surfaces and equipment and no hot water to assist with basic cleaning and sanitation."

Mould growth, sometimes extensive, was recorded on the shelving and walls of the walk-in cold room, the walls of the toilet and lobby and all over the food.

"Very large quantities of foodstuffs including lasagnes, cheese, chicken products, various salad mixes, sliced meats such as turkey and ham and opened tinned foodstuffs were completely covered and contaminated with thick layers of mould."

The closure order was lifted in May following works.

MARCH

Anthony & Christy Dunne, Madison Food Stall, Croke Park, Dublin

Closure order. "No running water to either the wash hand basin or utensil sink and no other means of cleaning, disinfecting or sanitising hands or equipment. Raw burgers and hot dogs labeled 'keep frozen' stored at ambient."

Order lifted in the same month following works.

Daryl Egan, Main Event Catering, Metzo Diner, Castleknock, Dublin

Closure Order. "Sewage is overflowing from the staff WC into the lobby area and into the kitchen. This is likely to pose a high risk of contamination giving rise to a grave and immediate danger to public health."

Order lifted in the same month following works.

APRIL

Ms Trudi Ko, Kiltimagh Road, Claremorris, Co Mayo. Domestic Chinese take-away

Closure Order. Operation found to be "not remotely safe" in terms of its domestic kitchen base, which was "inadequate in size, design, capacity and facilities.

"Domestic activities such as laundering and drying of clothes, eating of meals and other such domestic activities were being carried out alongside the catering business," the report notes.

"A fly swatter was noted to be stored on top of uncovered prawn crackers and serviettes under the food preparation table." Cobwebs were on the ceiling and a rubbish bin was so full it could not be closed.

MAY

Seeta Restaurant, Dublin Road, Naas, Co Kildare

Closure order. Among the findings were a "live rodent seen in the middle of the dining area and rat droppings, in particular, in the front bar area... The premises was not adequately rodent proofed as there were numerous gaps and holes in the walls, external doors, floors and around pipe work." The order was lifted, following remedial works, the following November.

JULY

Crystal Supermart, Summerhill, Dublin

Closure order due to an infestation of cockroaches throughout the premises. An inspector's report revealed: "large numbers of live and dead cockroaches noted on the shelves of the shop directly underneath foodstuffs such as dried fish and vegetables."

More were found in the food packing area, the floor between freezers, the sluice sink in the lobby of the staff toilet, in the cupboard underneath the sink, running from underneath food boxes and on the floor of the walk-in freezer.

"The cockroaches were at various stages of their life cycle; many were seen with egg cases attached to their bodies," the inspector noted.

Closed under Section 53 of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act, Crystal Supermart was reopened in August following remedial works.

AUGUST

Ba Mizu (Gmad Food Ltd), Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin

Closure order due to the discovery of rat droppings in the kitchen and suspected access points for pests. Order lifted in September.

Jewel in the Crown Ltd, South William St, Dublin

Closure order due to the discovery of rodent droppings and carcass as well as access points for pests. Order lifted in the same month.

SEPTEMBER

Wax (Spy Ltd), Powercourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin

Closure order on the discovery of: "presence of rat droppings, presence of rat carcasses, suspected contamination of foodstuffs, suspected access points for pests, suspected harbourage of pests." The order was lifted the following month. The authority also ordered that "all foods including alcoholic and soft drinks, ice and water be withdrawn from sale with immediate effect".

Ely Wine Bar & Café, Ely Place, Dublin

Closure order due to "the presence of rat droppings, suspected contamination of foodstuffs, suspected access points for pests, suspected harbourage for pests". The order was lifted the same month following works.

Fortune Star House, Tramore, Co Waterford

Closure order for: "The proprietor was observed sticking a visibly dirty finger into a piece of cooked chicken to check whether or not it was hot."

A thorough inspection found numerous faults including flies in the kitchen, all sinks being used for the preparation of both raw and cooked food and a lack of traceability records for food stocks.

The order was lifted following works later that month.

China Garden (Bi Lian Liu), Unit 3, Supervalue Centre, Balbriggan, Dublin

Closure order. "The floor was severely greasy and very soiled with blood drip and pieces of meat under equipment. A mop that was heavily soiled and stained with blood drip was used to clean the floors of the entire premises.

"Food utensils, containers, knives, chopping boards, sieves, bowls, were heavily soiled with dirt, food debris an grime leading to a real risk of food contamination.

"Members of staff were wearing heavily soiled uniforms and were handling foodstuffs, causing a real risk of food contamination." The order was lifted in October following works.

OCTOBER

Annabella Food Co-Op (Evelyn Idonele), Market Square, Longford

Closure order. "Numerous dead cockroaches were found on shelving, on sealed food products, on the floor beneath shelving and on the floor in the staff toilet," inspectors found.

"Two live cockroaches were observed. One cockroach was observed on top of a tin of 'jumbo chicken stock' and a second cockroach was observed in a plastic bag containing disposable food containers".

"Unidentified small insects were found in the crevices on top of the chest freezer."

The order was lifted in December following remedial works.

Lidl, Blakestown Way, Blanchardstown, Dublin

Closure order. "On inspection of the premises a significant number of mice droppings were seen on a pallet storing foodstuffs on the shop floor. There was a large number of mice droppings seen in situ of the cleaning area." The conditions were corrected and the order was lifted in the same month.

NOVEMBER

O'Donoghues (San Benedetto Ltd), Suffolk Street, Dublin

Closure order due to "the presence of rat droppings, the presence of access points for pests, the presence of harbourage for pests. The accumulation of effluent on the basement floor surface with subsequent potential for the transfer of contamination to foodstuffs and other parts of the premises."

The closure order was lifted following improvement works.

Morning Star, Flower Hill, Navan, Co Meath

Closure order on foot of "an extensive insect infestation of multiple insect variety throughout the premises, numerous food products display evidence of infestation among which are boxes of dried fish as well as bags of dried crayfish, dried cat fish, other dried fish which was on open display, frozen fish and other unidentified food.

"There was evidence of insects throughout the premises feeding on rotting decaying fruit and vegetables and evidence of insects at different stages in their lifecycle."

The closure order was lifted in December following works.

DECEMBER

Gaiety Theatre (Gaiety Investments), Dublin

Prohibition Order. "All foods including alcoholic and soft drinks, ice and water, are suspected of being contaminated due to the presence of numerous rodent droppings throughout the basement."

The order directed management to ensure stock was not used for human consumption or destroyed. The order was complied with and lifted in the same month.