Up to 1,000 teachers not vetted by gardaí
The party’s education spokesperson Brian Hayes expressed alarm that a loophole in the law means some 1,000 unqualified substitute teachers receive inadequate background checks.
Mr Hayes branded the vetting system “haphazard and risky”.
New teachers have been vetted since 2006, with those in place before that time being retrospectively checked. However, Mr Hayes said the 1,000 stand- ins have not been checked adequately.
“It’s just not enough that we have no proper vetting system in place for them — you could argue that children are at risk because of this.
“We need to sort this out sooner rather than later, but the Government do not seem to be giving this issue the attention it deserves.
“It is extremely worrying that given the amount of time children spend in a school environment, during the most vulnerable years of their lives, many of those employed in the educational system have not undergone the most basic of requirements — a background check by the gardaí.
“There are over 55,000 teachers working with children in this country, as well as ancillary staff who are working with children in close proximity on a daily basis. However, vetting has only been carried out in relation to newly-appointed teachers and staff since 2006. Those already in the system are being retrospectively vetted on a phased basis over the next few years.
“A loophole in the legislation which has not been addressed by the Government to date is allowing approximately 1,000 untrained substitutes to teach in our schools. The only limited vetting they receive is from the board of management of the school.”
Mr Hayes said promised limits on employing unqualified teachers will not be set for some time as there are not enough qualified substitutes available.
“The vetting procedure for such [unqualified] individuals needs to be addressed in the interim,” he said.
Mr Hayes said it was also unacceptable that more than half of all teachers who are “designated liaison persons” in cases of child abuse have still to receive training.
The Department of Education said it laid down strict guidelines for schools on substitute teachers.
“The board of management is the legal employer in the school, and like any prudent employer, the board is responsible for checking references and professional backgrounds of any teacher it wishes to employ in a school, as set out in circulars issued by the Education Department,” a spokesperson for Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe said.
