Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

There is an accumulated backlog of unvetted people which will take some time to deal with. As I indicated in my answer to the Deputy, these sectors will be dealt with by the vetting unit in chronological order as they get their requirements together. To vet 30,000 people the staff in the unit, given its current complement, would need to deal with 1,000 inquiries each in a year, which should be possible. If extra staff resources are required they will be recruited. As the Deputy knows, it is necessary in all but a small number of cases to impose a charge because we cannot have people repeatedly availing of a service without thinking carefully about the costs to the Exchequer. The new unit, in its purpose-built accommodation organised around this core function and with a significant civilian, as opposed to Garda, staff component, is the way forward and will greatly enhance the capacity of the State to vet people in areas where it is appropriate.

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