Thousands of new teachers, care-takers and other staff with access to children in the education system will face vetting checks by the Garda from September.
The child protection measures will affect an estimated 3,500 to 4,000 people due to take up posts in schools. The bulk of vetting will affect teachers, but non-teaching staff such as caretakers, secretaries and visiting sports coaches will also face Garda checks.
Department of Education officials are in discussion with school management authorities and unions over the plans, while guidelines for school authorities on the recruitment of new staff are to be issued shortly.
Until now vetting in the education sector has been available on a limited basis, primarily in respect of prospective employees in child detention schools, special needs assistants (SNAs) and bus escorts for children with special needs.
Campaigners have warned repeatedly in recent years that the lack of adequate vetting procedures could lead to a "Soham-type tragedy" occurring here.
Minister for Children Brian Lenihan said yesterday the plans had been under discussion for the past year and that all existing teachers will eventually face vetting checks.
"This is another step forward in developing a robust child-protection system."
The newly established Teaching Council, the fitness-to-practise body for teachers, will be responsible for submitting applications to the Garda, while school authorities will be responsible for requesting checks relating to non-teaching staff.
Teachers' unions such as the TUI and the ASTI have welcomed the move, although some union officials have expressed concern over whether misdemeanour crimes may be held against an applicant.
ASTI general secretary John White said the union supported the move and that every parent was entitled to know that a person teaching their child was of "good character". On the issue of less serious crimes which did not involve any danger to children, he said he hoped that relevant authorities would not take an unnecessarily draconian stance.
A spokesman for the TUI said the union also welcomed the move and that teachers, as well as parents, wanted the highest level of protection for young people.
The pace of widening the remit of vetting checks has been criticised by groups working with children, although the Department of Education said the expansion of the service involves very large numbers of people.
"It will have to be done on a phased basis. There are very large numbers involved. For example, in the education sector alone, we are talking of upwards of 70,000 people. It is estimated that over 30,000 will have to be vetted in the youth sector," a spokesperson said.
Officials were unable to say when the Government plans to extend its remit to all existing staff working with children in the education sector. The voluntary sector, where thousands of adults have access to children, will also face vetting checks.
