Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 152: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications from addresses in County Mayo waiting to be processed at the Garda central vetting unit; if not available, the number of applications relating to County Mayo; the average waiting time for vetting applications to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28903/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a large number of organisations in Ireland registered with the Gardaí for this purpose and which employ persons in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or training capacity to positions where they would have substantial, unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable adults. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the applications for Garda vetting received from registered organisations are recorded by name and date of birth of the person for whom a vetting request is being made rather than by reference to geographical origin. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

The GCVU has managed a substantial increase over recent years in the numbers of vetting applications it receives - 187,864 in 2007; 218,404 in 2008 and 246,194 in 2009. The processing time for vetting applications fluctuates during the year due to seasonal demands when the volume of applications received from certain sectors can increase. Additional time may be required to process an individual vetting application in cases where clarification is required as to the details provided or where other enquiries need to be made, for example, when the person in question has lived and worked abroad. There will always be a reasonably significant time period required to process a vetting application. However, the Gardaí make every effort to reduce this to the minimum possible consistent with carrying out the necessary checks. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the current average processing time for vetting applications received at the GCVU is in the region of 10 to 12 weeks given that demand is particularly high at present.