Vol. 515 No. 3
211 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the requirement or obligation, if any, on non-statutory employers in services for children to ensure that prospective employees are suited to this work; if they are required to obtain Garda clearance for these employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6231/00]
Directions on the recruitment and selection of staff to children's residential centres were issued by my Department in November 1994. Under these directions employers must obtain Garda clearance on all staff being considered for appointment to a children's residential centre. In September 1995 these directions were extended to the recruitment of staff to any area of the health services where they would have substantial access to children and vulnerable individuals. The directions also stress that it is important that employers validate information supplied by candidates and verify references pro-actively.
I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, that the Garda clearance procedure also applies in respect of public service appointments and, on a pilot basis, to persons on a FÁS community employment project which involves regular unsupervised contact with children or other vulnerable persons.
I also understand that in 1999 the Garda Commissioner commenced a comprehensive review of Garda clearance arrangements. He established an internal working group to recommend improved clearance procedures which would allow the Garda Síochána to respond effectively to the increasing number of requests to extend the system. Arising from the recommendations of the working group, the Garda Commissioner has approved the establishment of an implementation group which will report on the practical and resource implications of establishing a new centralised unit to deal with these matters.
New national child protection guidelines Children First – National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children were published in September 1999 by my Department. The guidelines are intended to support and guide health professionals, teachers, members of the Garda Síochána and the many people in sporting, community and voluntary organisations who come into regular contact with children. They state that all organisations providing services to children have an overall corporate duty and responsibility to safeguard children by, inter alia, adopting and consistently applying a safe and clearly defined method of recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers.
