Safeguarding international schools in Ireland: country guide

In Ireland, the Department of Education sets national policy and inspects recognised schools. Some international and private schools sit outside the state-funded system. Even so, every school that works with children must follow Irish law on child protection, vetting and data.

The Children First Act 2015 applies to any group that teaches, cares for or runs activities for children. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, checks that each one keeps a Child Safeguarding Statement.

Many international schools in Dublin also teach the IB or hold CIS, NEASC or MSA approval. Those frameworks sit alongside Irish law. They never replace the duties set by the Irish parliament.

The core law is the Children First Act 2015. Under Section 11, every service for children must write down any risk of harm to a child while in its care.

From that risk review, the school must write and publish a Child Safeguarding Statement. It explains how the school manages each risk it found.

The Department of Education also publishes Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools. These say the board must review the statement every year. It must be shared with parents, staff and Tusla on request.

Yes. Schedule 2 of the Act lists the mandated persons. The list includes every teacher registered with the Teaching Council, plus school leaders, youth workers, psychologists and health staff.

Under Section 14, a mandated person who knows or has good reason to suspect harm must report it to Tusla as soon as they can. Harm means assault, ill-treatment, neglect or sexual abuse that seriously affects a child.

Every school names a Designated Liaison Person (DLP) and a deputy. This matches the DSL role in other countries. A teacher with a concern usually makes a joint report with the DLP through the Tusla online portal.

Telling the DLP does not end the teacher's own legal duty. If the DLP decides not to report a case that meets the threshold, the teacher must still report it. Read our overview of mandatory reporting laws for international schools.

When a child is in danger now, call the Gardaí first on 112 or 999. Never leave a child in an unsafe place while staff fill in an online form.

For other reports and advice, contact the local Tusla duty social work team or use the Tusla portal. Print these contacts on staff room posters and in your induction pack.

• 112 or 999: emergency numbers for the Gardaí (police), ambulance and fire.
• Tusla duty teams: local social workers who take referrals and give phone advice to DLPs.
• 1800 66 66 66: ISPCC Childline, a free, private helpline for young people, open all day and night.
• Your DLP and deputy: tell them the same day whenever a concern comes up.

In Ireland, vetting is a legal rule before anyone starts work with children. Under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012 to 2016, a school commits a crime if it lets someone start without a vetting result from the National Vetting Bureau.

The rule covers teachers, classroom assistants, coaches, regular volunteers and contractors who meet pupils. Teaching Council registration includes vetting. Schools must check that a teacher's registration is active before they start.

Garda vetting alone is not enough for people who have lived abroad. Ask for police checks from each country they lived in, and log them all on your SCR. Follow our guide to safer recruitment for international schools.

Many leaders move to Ireland after working with British or global models. Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) is guidance for England and has no legal force in Ireland.

Irish terms also differ. Where British schools say DSL, Irish rules say Designated Liaison Person. Use the Irish terms in your policy, so staff, parents and Tusla see a clear match with national rules.

The ITFCP and accreditors such as CIS line up well with the Children First Act. Both expect yearly training, clear ways to raise concerns, safe hiring records and quick referrals.

Irish schools follow the EU GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. The regulator is the Data Protection Commission, which has guidance on children's data.

Child protection files hold sensitive data, so limit access to the DLP, the deputy and the Principal. Sharing facts with Tusla or the Gardaí to meet a legal duty does not need parental consent.

If you log concerns in cloud software, check where the servers are. Data kept inside the EEA is simpler, while data sent outside it must follow GDPR rules on transfers.

Use this checklist in your first month. This guide is general information, not legal advice, so ask an Irish lawyer to review your written procedures.

• Confirm the board has named a DLP and deputy, and that their names are shown at reception.
• Check that the Child Safeguarding Statement and risk review were signed and reviewed in the last 12 months.
• Complete the Tusla Children First e-learning and keep dated staff certificates on file.
• Make sure every registered teacher knows their own duty as a mandated person.
• Check that every adult who works with pupils had a vetting result before they started.
• Post Tusla, 112 or 999 and Childline (1800 66 66 66) where staff and pupils can see them.