Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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408. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements schools can put in place requesting Garda vetting for students who wish to complete their leaving certificate or FETAC levels 3, 4 and 5 in schools throughout the country in particular schools that are run by the education and training boards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47225/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The arrangements for garda vetting of teaching and non-teaching staff were introduced in September 2006. In late 2010, my Department issued Circular 0063/2010 which updated and clarified the requirements for Garda vetting as part of recruitment procedures for all teaching and non-teaching positions.

This circular also sets out the vetting requirements of non-employees such as volunteers, sports coaches etc. The circular does not require vetting of students in schools. However, in accordance with "Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children" a school authority may require garda vetting of students where a course it provides involves work placements or work with children.

In all cases, school authorities must be cognisant of their responsibility to provide a duty of care towards the children attending the school. This is particularly relevant where the school authority also provides courses to adult students in the same building.