Vetting unit to focus on voluntary workers

TEACHERS, classroom assistants and volunteer youth workers are likely to face garda background checks as part of a review of vetting procedures for people working with children.

But the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) has warned until the proposal becomes practice, children remain at risk from abusers.

The ISPCC yesterday opened a public petition which aims to collect tens of thousands of signatures from around the country to present to the Government when the Dáil resumes in the autumn.