Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the opportunity to raise this important matter, namely, the need for the Minister for Education and Science to review the current procedures for the employment of substitute teachers by schools and the formalisation of such websites used to source teachers to ensure only candidates with the required teaching qualifications and up-to-date Garda clearance are given positions in Irish schools.

A serious issue has come to our attention in recent times whereby websites being accessed by school principals to source substitute teachers may contain the details of candidates who do not hold appropriate qualifications and who do not have Garda clearance but who, if engaged by the principal teachers, who are usually under pressure to find a teacher quickly, would then be given access to classrooms of young children. This is not in keeping with the standards for best practice which have been laid down for all contact with young children by personnel and it highlights that the time has come to review the procedures in place.

It is very much in keeping with the times in which we live that school principals should be able to utilise on-line facilities to access such substitutes. However, I ask the Minister to take this opportunity to formalise the procedures. One suggestion I would make for the Minister's consideration is that these websites would be formalised and that principals would only access such authorised sites which in turn would be required to ensure only the details of candidates who had appropriate qualifications and only candidates who had Garda clearance would be posted.

We are fortunate in having access to the very excellent services of the Garda Síochána vetting unit. It could be utilised by having it identify designated personnel who operate the websites as being the people to request Garda clearance for any candidate who wishes his or her details to be posted on the websites. This would be of great assistance to school principals who are already under pressure and often only have very short notice in which to engage a substitute. Most importantly, it would ensure we are in keeping with the standards we have set ourselves to enhance and maximise the protection of our children. I ask the Minister to consider this proposal.