Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the vetting system for untrained substitute teachers; the number of untrained substitute teachers employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10613/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The recruitment and selection of staff whether for teaching or other positions in a school rests with Boards of Management as employer. Good practice should involve the checking of recent employment records, qualifications, experience and names of referees. While across the country many substitute teachers have previous experience working in schools and may be known to schools there is clearly a heightened requirement for vigilance in checking the prior employment record where the person seeking employment is not known to the school or is approaching the school for the first time.

Good practice is warranted in any event quite apart from the specific issue of safeguarding against any child protection risk. In relation to child protection the arrangements for vetting of teaching and non-teaching staff are set out in Department Circular 0094/2006 which issued to all schools in June 2006. The Circular is available on my Department's website.

The vetting arrangements were introduced in September 2006 for vetting of new teachers at the time of their initial registration with the Teaching Council regardless of whether they are likely to enter permanent employment or take up appointments as substitute or part-time teachers. The procedures also apply to prospective employees for posts that involve working with children such as Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), bus drivers, bus escorts to children with special needs, caretakers and other ancillary staff in schools.

As the expansion of service by the Garda Vetting Unit is rolled out, consultations will proceed with the relevant education stakeholders on how best to introduce vetting of existing teachers that are working in any capacity — permanent, part-time or substitute in the school system and other existing education staff working with children. The circular does require the vetting of any person being appointed to a teaching position (whether permanent, part-time or substitute) who has not been employed in the school system in the previous 3 years.

Irrespective of the position on vetting by the Garda Vetting Unit where facts or information comes to a Board of Management's attention calling into question a person's suitability to work with children it is a matter for the Board to satisfy itself that the person is suitable to work in that capacity. This will naturally have to be assessed on a case by case basis. The Board will have to consider all the circumstances of the case, give due weight to all relevant factors, and afford fair procedures to the individual concerned before making a decision.

The information regarding the number of unqualified substitute teachers is currently being compiled in my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.