Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The statement is self-explanatory. Since the roll-out of the new Garda vetting forms, there has been a disconnect between the legislation and the reality on the ground. A serious problem has arisen. Michael Ryan, the principal of a school in Waterford, has raised a valid query. At present, he wants to take on some temporary staff. He would have the same issue if he wanted to take on a new teacher to work in the school. He and the school board of management can be held personally liable under the new legislation if they do not get the Garda vetting in order. For someone looking to work on a temporary basis, it is taking five or six weeks to get Garda vetting for that particular school. If a teacher was already working in a school and had Garda vetting certificate, that would not apply to Mr. Ryan's school. Under the new legislation, a principal such as Mr. Ryan has to apply to the Garda to get a certificate pertaining to his school. There seems to be a real disconnect.

The same applies to social clubs and other bodies. For argument’s sake, if the Minister of State wanted to be a coach with a GAA club, the club would need to apply and get the certificate back from the Garda. If he then wanted to coach the soccer team or work with the scouts, those bodies need to apply individually which is duplication in paperwork. There has to be a simpler system.

I know for new teachers starting now there is an electronic certificate. If the Garda approves a person for one body, it should apply to all. We need a more streamlined system to make this work. There is considerably more onus under the new legislation with the possibility of imprisonment, fines and everything else. People are taking it very seriously. While I welcome the legislation in principle, and it is good legislation, it might have been imposed slightly too quickly without having done some of the ground work behind it. Perhaps the certificate that applies to the new teachers should be given to existing teachers, so that they could move more freely between schools. It is a serious problem and we should address it.