Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 473: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason local Garda vetting is not being used until such times as the proper facilities are available in Garda headquarters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2876/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Following the establishment of the Garda central vetting unit in 2002, the vetting of persons who have substantial, unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults was centralised to the unit to ensure best practice in the processing of such applications. Preparations are at an advanced stage for the extension of the availability of the unit's vetting services to all appropriate sectors and groups, including recognised child care organisations. An additional 17 staff were provided recently to more than double the unit's numbers from 13 to 30. I am pleased that the unit has been successfully decentralised to new, custom-designed office accommodation in Thurles, County Tipperary, from where it will soon commence the expansion of its vetting service.