Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current waiting time for Garda clearance certificates to be issued and the reason there has been an increase in waiting times recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56570/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Garda Central Vetting Unit provides employment vetting for approximately 20,000 organisations in Ireland that are registered with the Unit and which employ personnel to work in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or student capacity with children and or vulnerable adults. The current average processing time for vetting applications is nine weeks. However, seasonal fluctuations and the need to seek additional information on particular applications can result in this processing time being exceeded on occasion. All organisations are aware of the processing time frames for the receipt of Garda vetting and have been advised to factor this into their recruitment and selection processes. The processing time has increased in recent months partly due to a transition in staffing arrangements for the unit. I am conscious of the need to keep the processing time to a minimum. I am confident that the current average processing time will reduce as a number of measures to ensure improvements in the time it takes for the processing of vetting applications take effect. Most recently, there has been a redeployment of staff from another Government Department and the opening of a second vetting centre in Ennis, County Clare.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when Garda clearance will be issued to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56571/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Vetting is carried out in response to written requests made through registered organisations on behalf of the individual who is to be vetted. In the context of the applications referred to in the Deputy's question, I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is not possible to check the status of these applications in the absence of details such as the names of the individuals and their dates of birth. If the Deputy will provide the additional information, I will have further enquiries made in the matter.