New teachers must seek garda clearance

MORE THAN 1,000 prospective teachers may be precluded from taking up jobs when schools re-open in September as they have not yet sought garda clearance under strict new vetting arrangements.

Almost three years after first being announced by Minister for Children Brian Lenihan, the expanded Garda Central Vetting Unit (CVU) is now in a position to check the backgrounds of all new teachers beginning work for the first time this autumn.

But, although around 2,500 students graduate from primary and second-level teacher training courses every year, only 1,400 have so far submitted vetting application forms to the Teaching Council. The council is the authorised body to seek clearance for teachers, and will forward all forms to the CVU for checking.