In November 2010, The DES published Circular 063/2010 updating and clarifying the requirements for Garda vetting as part of recruitment procedures for all teaching and non-teaching positions in schools. These updated procedures come into effect from 1st January 2011. The main elements of the circular are :
- Vetting does not take the place of recruitment procedures but is used as part of those procedures.
- All persons being appointed to teaching positions of any duration must be vetted prior to commencing employment unless they have been vetted during the same or previous calendar year. This requirement to be vetted now includes teachers who are changing employment to other schools.
- All persons being appointed to non teaching positions of any duration must be vetted prior to commencing employment unless they have been vetted through the same registered organisation during the same or previous calendar year.
- Every effort must be made to complete the vetting process in advance of appointments being made. If this is not possible (for reasons outside the control of the school authority) then the prospective employee must confirm acceptance in writing that his/her appointment is subject to satisfactory outcome of the vetting process.
- As an additional safeguard, the child protection related Statutory Declaration must be provided by all persons being appointed to teaching and non teaching positions of any duration. In addition to this, a Form of Undertaking should be completed by any prospective employee that does not require completion of a DES payroll appointment form.
- This circular introduces vetting requirements for other persons (such as volunteers, sports coaches etc) that have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults.
Schools should refer to the Circular for full details.