Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if Garda Síochána clearance is required for all persons teaching and working in schools; if this procedure applies to members of the boards of management of schools and to bodies that oversee the provision of schools, such as Educate Together, Gaelscoileanna and other national organisations; if Garda Síochána vetting is required for board members in these situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24079/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The current arrangements for garda vetting of teaching and non-teaching school 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 set out the vetting requirements of non-employees such as volunteers, sports coaches etc. In relation to non-employees, the key criterion in determining whether a vetting requirement arises is whether the person will have or may have unsupervised access to children in the school. This would not normally be the case in the case of board of management members or persons employed by the bodies referred to by the Deputy.

The existing Garda vetting arrangements for the recognised schools sector operate on a non-statutory basis. However, the Deputy will be aware that the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012, will, when commenced, put in place statutory requirements for vetting of persons involved in working with children and vulnerable adults, including those working in schools.