Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I would not like the Deputy to impute that I am in any way not treating this matter seriously. I was quite concerned by the newspaper article to which the Deputy referred. This matter serves as a timely reminder of the importance of carrying out adequate checks when school staff are being recruited. I have asked my officials to bring to the attention of all schools the difficulties to which this case has given rise. As already stated, all schools must, as employers, be vigilant in this area.

Schools must be made aware of the Irish Primary Principals Network, IPPN, website, which contains a "text-a-sub" service. It would be appropriate that any school taking on a substitute teacher who is not known to it would, in the first instance, require that details of his or her teaching qualifications be provided. As the Deputy is aware, all teachers are obliged to register with the Teaching Council. It would also be appropriate for the school to establish details of an individual's background in teaching. Every effort must be made to obtain the relevant information in order that it might be established that a substitute teacher's qualifications and behaviour reach the required standard.

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