John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the reply. I wanted to give credit to the Minister, Deputy Shatter, because he had the processing time down to five weeks in November last. Regardless of whether it is the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 that is causing the problem, the issue is the duplication of vetting that is needed. I would ask the Minister of State to bring that message back.

I note from the reply that the average processing time is 12 weeks. I understand the Department of Social Protection will not allow vacancies in community employment schemes to be advertised within approximately eight weeks of the roll-over of schemes. There is a contradiction here. If there are appointments made to a CE scheme or a job offered, those concerned will not know that until eight weeks before they are due to take up office. Maybe it is in that context that some of these appointees cannot take up the positions.

I thank the Minister of State and ask him to convey those specific issues to the Minister, Deputy Shatter.

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