Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 603: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the categories of persons working in a paid or voluntary capacity under the aegis of her Department who are subject to Garda vetting to protect against possible child abuse; the timeframe to introduce vetting for all such persons who work with children not currently vetted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32058/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Ensuring the protection, health and welfare of children is a key concern for the Government, parents, agencies that work with children and society generally and I can assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to do all it can to keep our children and vulnerable adults safe.

In the education sector, vetting is available in respect of prospective employees of children in detention schools as well as special needs assistants, SNAs, and bus escorts to children with special needs. My colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science with special responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, announced a doubling of the number of staff employed in the unit to ensure that they can handle a greater volume of requests from employers. The unit will commence the augmentation of its existing vetting arrangements upon decentralisation targeted for mid-November this year. The provision of additional staff resources will enable the Garda Síochána's vetting services to be extended to all persons working with children and vulnerable adults, including teachers, caretakers, bus drivers and others working with children.