James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for asking this question. The primary purpose of employment vetting as carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau, GNVB, is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. I am sure the Deputy would agree on the vital importance of this task and the need for it to be carried out thoroughly and correctly. The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 provide that the vetting system is managed by the Garda National Vetting Bureau. As Minister of State, I have no role in the processing of individual vetting applications. I am advised by the Garda authorities that section 15 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 provides for local authorities to obtain criminal record checks in respect of persons applying for housing, including persons the authority believes may have been engaged in antisocial behaviour.

To be clear, no individual who applies for social housing in Ireland is subject to Garda vetting. However, a local authority may seek information in relation to any person seeking a house from specified persons under section 15 of the 1997 Act, including An Garda Síochána or from another local authority. It is important to note that this is not a vetting process as provided for under the National Vetting Bureau Acts. As I have said, the purpose of vetting is to act as an important component of safeguarding the most vulnerable members of society, that is children and vulnerable adults. As a consequence, I am advised that the GNVB has no role in the processing of local authority housing applications. As the Deputy can appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for directing operational policing matters, including deployment of Garda resources and we have no role in that matter.

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