Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress being made in establishing mechanisms to manage Garda vetting applications for the complete child care sector, as referenced in a letter from the Garda central vetting unit to a Dublin child care organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40810/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the recommendations of the Garda Vetting Report and the expansion of the Garda Central Vetting Unit, the Garda vetting service is being expanded by means of a phased roll-out within resource capacities. The roll out is accompanied by training for organisations who will be submitting the vetting applications. The expansion will continue over this year and next year and beyond until vetting is provided for all personnel working in a full time, part-time or voluntary capacity with children and vulnerable adults. This will include all workers involved in the childcare sector.

Garda vetting is currently required as a condition of funding in respect of every childcare employee whose employees are in receipt of staffing grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP), excluding FÁS funded employees on Job Initiative (J.I.), Community Employment (C.E.) and Social Economy Programmes. Such funding is not available to private childcare facilities run on a commercial basis.