Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 January 2026
54. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider revising the requirement for substitute SNAs to have individual Garda vetting undertaken for each school they work in, and move to a single vetting process, similar to that for teachers through the Teaching Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2575/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Vetting Bureau [Children and Vulnerable Persons] Act of 2012 provides that vetting is conducted by the National Vetting Bureau on foot of an application by a relevant organisation that is registered with it. The vetting legislation and the vetting procedures operated by the National Vetting Bureau fall within the remit of the Minister for Justice.
My Departments Circular Letter 0031/2016 advises of the statutory obligations placed on school authorities to obtain a vetting disclosure from the Bureau prior to the employment, contract, permission or placement of a person to undertake relevant work or activities with children or vulnerable persons. The relevant diocesan office or school management body continues to act as a conduit for schools for the purposes of Garda vetting of persons other than registered teachers who are employed, contracted, permitted or placed to undertake relevant work or activities by the school and in the case of ETB schools, the relevant ETB is the relevant organisation for such purposes.
My department recognises the value of the SNA role in the successful inclusion of students with special educational needs into mainstream education, special classes and special schools, ensuring that these students can access education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
My department, through the dedicated Special Needs Assistant Workforce Development Unit, is currently working on the first Special Needs Assistant Workforce Development Plan (the plan) . The plan will include consideration of how best school communities and SNAs can work together to ensure that both are supported to provide the most effective service to students with significant care needs in our schools.
Pillar 4 of the plan sets out the strategic approach to recruitment, retention, and diversity within the SNA workforce and will introduce measures to manage current and future workforce composition, and to develop and promote a confident, competent and motivated SNA workforce. The Garda Vetting process is under consideration as part of the overall work undertaken on the plan.
Work on the plan has involved significant consultation with SNAs and other stakeholders including school management bodies, the unions, school staff, parents and children and is now in the final stages. Further information and updates will be published on the SNA Information Hub on www.gov.ie in due course.
