John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the average waiting time for Garda vetting in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6049/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for approximately 20,000 organisations in Ireland which employ personnel to work in a full time part time, voluntary or student capacity with children and or vulnerable adults. The Unit processed approximately 328,000 vetting applications on behalf of these organisations in 2012.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the average processing time for Garda vetting applications for the years 2009 to 2012 are as follows:

The GCVU, which will become the National Vetting Bureau under the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau Act 2012 Act enacted in December last, will have a substantially expanded role under the new legislation. I am currently engaged with An Garda Síochána and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in addressing the staffing issues relevant to the coming into force of the 2012 Act.

It is my objective that processing times should be kept to a minimum, while maintaining the overall integrity of the vetting system.