Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applicants on the current waiting list for Garda vetting approval; the year-on-year increase in applicants from 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; the average waiting time and the measures he has taken to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31105/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda Authorities that at present, there are around 50,000 applications in the course of being processed and that the average processing time for vetting applications received at the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) is approximately 9 weeks. While there can be seasonal fluctuations, the average processing time of 9 weeks is a significant improvement on the average processing time of 12 weeks at the end of last year.

There has been a substantial increase in the volume of vetting applications received by the GCVU over recent years. The year on year increase since 2008 is as follows:

I am very conscious of the need to keep the time required to obtain a vetting to the minimum possible. Since taking office I have taken a number of initiatives with a view to achieving this objective.

In that regard, the sanction of the Department of Finance was obtained to retain the services of 10 temporary employees working in the GCVU. A further sanction was obtained to engage an additional 10 temporary employees and these have recently commenced work in the GCVU. That brings the staffing levels in the GCVU to 102. This is composed of 5 Gardaí, 76 full-time Garda civilian personnel and 20 temporary civilian personnel. The Unit is headed by a Garda Superintendent. 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. All of this should have a positive impact on processing times. I am looking at other options which may assist further in reducing processing times.