Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 337: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Garda unit for vetting people who apply to work with young people was established; the number of people in the unit; the areas of employment vetted by the unit; the average waiting time for vetting to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22699/06]

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

The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) was established in January 2002 to deal with the then known demand for vetting applications. From a child protection perspective, the Unit processes vetting requests in respect of the following:

—prospective employees of the Health Service Executive (HSE);

—prospective employees of certain agencies funded by the HSE;

—childcare places funded by the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform;

—special education facilities;

—special needs assistants in the general education sector;

—school transports; and

—prospective adoptive parents and fosterers.

The GCVU is currently staffed by 34 personnel, comprising 1 Garda Inspector, 2 Garda Sergeants and 31 civil servants. This level of staffing represents a more than doubling in the human resources allocated to the Unit in the past 12 months.

The current average processing time for vetting applications is approximately five weeks.

Since the GCVU's decentralisation to Thurles, Co. Tipperary, in November 2005, new liaison mechanisms have been successfully implemented in the HSE 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 these have resulted in an improved service being provided.

A planned expansion of the Garda vetting service to new organisations and sectors will occur by means of a phased roll-out to an increasing number of organisations in the child and vulnerable adult care sectors. To this end, a phased expansion plan, within current resource capacities, has been prepared. This has resulted in an increase in the number of HSE 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 vetting service being provided by the GCVU is proceeding in a planned and structured manner in consultation with the Government Departments responsible for child and vulnerable adult care. This expansion 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.