Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 609: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on a proposal to speed up the Garda vetting process by introducing a system that allows a person who receives Garda clearance to benefit from that clearance for the lifetime of the relevant position of employment, and it would be valid for one full year if that person wishes to apply for a voluntary position or another job within that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22680/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Garda vetting certificates are issued to specified registered organisations in respect of a particular post or employment in response to a written request and with the permission of the person who is the subject of that request. Decisions on the suitability for the recruitment/engagement of the person concerned rest at all times with the recruiting organisation.

The Garda Vetting certificate is non-transferable. It is important to emphasise that it is a disclosure to the requesting, registered organisation of the position in respect of a person at the time when it is issued. Furthermore, non-transferability protects against the risk of fraud or forgery of such certificates and is a guarantee of the integrity of the vetting system.

I fully appreciate the importance of processing vetting applications within a reasonable time frame and I am determined to address this aspect of the process. The present, average processing time for applications is approximately 10 weeks.

A number of measures are being taken to improve the situation. The sanction of the Department of Finance has been obtained to retain the services of ten temporary employees in the GCVU. A further sanction has been obtained to engage an additional ten temporary employees for the Unit and the process of recruiting these is underway. In addition, further steps are under consideration with a view to improving processing turnaround times. All of this should have a positive impact.

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 610: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will review the delay in processing of Garda vetting of persons seeking work in some professions in which Garda clearance is required; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is prohibiting and delaying many persons acquiring work regarding both temporary and full time jobs.. [22716/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the average processing time for vetting applications received at the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) is approximately 10 weeks. I appreciate that it is important to process these applications in as timely a manner as possible and that the length of time currently being taken is a matter of concern which I am determined to address.

A number of immediate steps are being taken to improve the situation. The sanction of the Department of Finance has been obtained to retain the services of ten temporary employees in the GCVU. A further sanction has been obtained to engage an additional ten temporary employees and the process of recruiting these is underway. Other measures aimed at improving turnaround times are also under consideration. All of this should have a positive impact on processing times.

I should mention that, in processing an individual vetting application, additional time may be required in cases where clarification is needed 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. It should nevertheless be understood that while the Gardaí make every effort to reduce the time to the minimum possible consistent with carrying out what are very necessary checks, there will always be a reasonably significant time period required to process a vetting application. Registered organisations have been advised to take account of this in their recruitment and selection processes.

In addition, the average processing time for vetting applications also fluctuates in line with periods of increased demand. The GCVU has managed a substantial increase over recent years in the numbers of vetting applications it receives from around 188,000 in 2007 to almost 292,000 in 2010. At present, there are approximately 55,000 applications in the course of being processed. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that at present there is a total of five Gardaí, 76 full-time Garda civilian personnel and ten temporary civilian personnel assigned to the GCVU. This represents a very significant increase in the level of personnel assigned to the unit, which stood at only 13 before the current process of development in Garda vetting began in 2005.