Written answers

Tuesday, 4 April 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Child Abuse

9:00 pm

Photo of Marian HarkinMarian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 445: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to establish a comprehensive vetting procedure for volunteers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13301/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Garda central vetting unit, GCVU, was established in 2002 and currently processes vetting requests in respect, inter alia, of prospective full-time employees of the Health Service Executive and certain agencies funded by it, as well as in respect of selected employments in other sectors. In 2004, an inter-agency working group on Garda vetting reported with a clear and focused strategy for enhancing national vetting arrangements. The strategy provides for an expansion of the GCVU's vetting service to all organisations which recruit persons having substantial, unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults. The implementation of the strategy is being overseen by an implementation group on Garda vetting comprising key stakeholders.

The GCVU has been successfully decentralised to new, custom-designed office accommodation in Thurles, County Tipperary. Since its decentralisation in November 2005 new liaison mechanisms have been successfully implemented in the Health Service Executive and are now being extended to all organisations previously registered for vetting. Significant changes have been made in the work processes of the unit in order to streamline the processing of vetting applications and have resulted in an improved service being provided. In addition, an additional 17 staff have been provided to the GCVU to more than double its numbers from 13 to 30. The expansion of the Garda vetting service to new organisations and sectors will be by way of a phased roll-out to an increasing number of organisations in the child care and vulnerable adult care sector and a phased expansion plan, within current resource capacity, has been prepared and accepted by the implementation group on Garda vetting. This has resulted in an increase in the number of Health Service Executive personnel being vetted in the first quarter in 2006, as well as vetting being introduced for the private security authority. A number of organisations from the voluntary sector are currently being identified for vetting services. The expansion of the service being provided by the GCVU is proceeding in a planned and structured manner in consultation with Departments responsible for childcare, and will continue until vetting is provided for all personnel working in a full time, part-time and or voluntary capacity with children and or vulnerable adults.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.