Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the difference in the processing time for Garda clearances for voluntary youth workers here compared to that of the PSNI which processes such applications within a few weeks and at a time when the uptake of volunteerism is increasing, his plans to review this process with a view of reducing the processing time. [25314/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda Authorities that at present 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 ten temporary employees have recently commenced work in the GCVU. 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 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 period required to process a vetting application and 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 almost 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 further informed by the Garda Authorities that at present there is a total of five Gardaí, 76 full-time Garda civilian personnel and twenty 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.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government has approved the draft scheme of a National Vetting Bureau Bill. The Bill will establish a statutory basis underpinning vetting procedures for persons to work with children and vulnerable adults. The Bill will be published in accordance with the Government's Legislative programme. The National Vetting Bureau to be established will take over the work of the GCVU.

Criminal history disclosure services in Northern Ireland are provided by Access NI which works with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be a matter for me to comment on the operation of that service but I can assure him that In respect of vetting applications which contain addresses in Northern Ireland, the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) has a long-standing and successful reciprocal arrangement in place with the PSNI.