Lorraine Higgins (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I fully support ensuring that each of my constituents has access to the workforce and that boundaries and barriers to work are eliminated by the Government. However, to achieve anything of significance in this regard, we must rectify the delay in applicants receiving Garda clearance. While I acknowledge and understand that An Garda Síochána is providing a great service in ensuring there is a process of quality control, it is of the utmost importance that nothing comes between those who want to work and work itself. The fact that people are waiting months to get their clearance is a major barrier to entry into the workforce.

In my home town of Athenry at present, there are 63 students studying child care, health care, nursing and social studies in a post-leaving certificate, PLC, course in Athenry vocational school. These students were expected to undertake work experience a number of weeks ago as part of their course, but I have learned they cannot do so because they have yet to receive Garda clearance. This means they are being delayed significantly in completing their course and subsequently entering the marketplace to seek work.

This is a terrible indictment of the processes in Ireland and serves only to deter and discourage people from entering the workforce. We must be mindful that these students are 18 or 19 years of age and are the people we need to help us rebuild Ireland. They have stayed here and have not emigrated. They want to get work in the local economy. In a town where there are more than 30 commercial units lying empty, any verve and enthusiasm must be welcome. I am requesting, in the national interest, that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, come to the House to outline what steps he is willing to take to ensure that these delays will be abated, if not extinguished.