The ISPCC has called for vetting of those wishing to work with children to be placed on a legislative footing.
The call came following a media report that a man with a previous conviction for child abuse was driving a school bus.
The ISPCC says the only way to ensure children's safety is to introduce a legislative obligation on employers and organisations to ensure any staff or volunteer working with children is Garda vetted.
The society today said it believes legislation would have the dual effect of making it a legal offence for an organisation not to obtain Garda vetting on any person working with children but would also place an obligation on the vetting authorities to provide vetting to all organisations who need it, on a timely basis.