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Vetting delays "detrimental" to
schools
07.02.17
DELAYS in Garda vetting
for Special Needs Assistants (SNA) will have a
"detrimental impact" on schools this year, Inishowen
TD Charlie McConalogue has warned.
He called for current vetting procedures to be
"overhauled" to prevent duplication and a
centralised database to prevent the need for SNAs to
go through the entire vetting procedure whenever
they move schools.
“A new member of staff cannot take up their position
until they have been vetted so there are many
schools which have been left without an SNA due to
the backlog of applications," said Deputy
McConalogue.
"This is resulting in particular difficulties where
schools are seeking substitute SNAs to cover for
staff members on leave." |
The Carndonagh-based
deputy added: "The main problem is that there is no
centralised record of SNAs that have been Garda
vetted. This means that an SNA has to go through the
entire vetting process every time they move school,
despite the fact that they have already received the
green-light from An Garda Síochána.
“A database already exists for teachers that have
been vetted, so there is no excuse for not having a
similar database for SNAs. It makes no sense to put
SNAs through the same vetting process on multiple
occasions. The system needs to be streamlined and
this must be a priority for the Government,” he
added. |
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Deputy Charlie McConalogue. |
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