1129. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if it is possible for her Department to link recent Garda vetting to a person’s PPS number, with respect to applications for teachers and SNAs for substitute posts, many teachers and SNAs have to repeatedly complete Garda vetting in short time periods when they apply for each substitute position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60420/26]

The vetting of persons undertaking relevant work or activities with children or vulnerable persons is governed by the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 (the Vetting Act), which are the responsibility of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Vetting is conducted by the Garda National Vetting Bureau. The Vetting Act applies not only to schools but to any relevant organisation that employs, contracts, permits or places a person in relevant work or activities with children or vulnerable persons, and it operates on the same statutory basis across every sector.

Schools are required to comply with Circular 0031/2016, Commencement of Statutory Requirements for Garda Vetting, which outlines that section 12 of the Vetting Act requires that a school authority must not, other than where certain exemptions apply, commence the employment of an employee to undertake relevant work or activities before the school authority receives a vetting disclosure from the Bureau in respect of that person. This requirement applies in respect of all types of appointment of any duration, including full-time, part-time and substitute positions.

The Teaching Council administers vetting for teachers in Ireland. The Teaching Council assesses the vetting disclosure to establish if a teacher can be registered. The school receives and assesses the vetting disclosure for the purposes of employing teachers.

The Teaching Council operates a re-vetting policy under which registered teachers are required to undergo re-vetting on a three-year cycle, linked to their registration renewal cycle. The Council notifies a teacher approximately six months in advance of the relevant registration renewal date when re-vetting is due, and completion of the re-vetting process is required for renewal of registration. A registered teacher is not generally required to make a separate vetting application for each teaching appointment, including substitute appointments. Instead, the teacher may access and share their current Teaching Council vetting disclosure electronically with current or prospective school employers.

For the purposes of Garda vetting of persons other than registered teachers, including special needs assistants, who are employed, contracted, permitted or placed to undertake relevant work or activities in schools, the relevant diocesan office or school management body acts as a conduit for schools. In the case of ETB schools, the relevant ETB is the relevant organisation for such purposes.

While responsibility for the vetting framework rests with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, my Department has given consideration to how vetting arrangements operate for special needs assistants within that framework. In recognition of the importance of the SNA role, my Department established a dedicated Special Needs Assistant Workforce Development Unit and published the first SNA Workforce Development Plan (the Plan) on 3 June 2026. The Plan sets out a framework to strengthen and support SNAs through enhanced professional development, greater role clarity, workforce sustainability measures and stronger collaboration across school communities.

Garda vetting was considered as part of the work undertaken on the Plan, and the Plan includes an action to work with stakeholders to deliver a centralised approach to Garda vetting for SNAs. The Plan acknowledges that a single, portable vetting pathway for SNAs would address longstanding inefficiencies, strengthen safeguarding and support more responsive workforce deployment.

The Garda Vetting Review Group, an inter-departmental group was established to review Garda vetting arrangements and legislation, and to make recommendations for amending the legislation and strengthening the Garda vetting process. Further to the work carried out by the Garda Vetting Review Group, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is working closely with the Garda National Vetting Bureau to implement a number of key changes to the overall vetting process that will ensure it remains robust and effective while improving the service to customers, including an assessment of appropriate models for an expansion of digital service delivery, which is a very significant project that will necessarily take time to fully scope and implement.