Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection to explain if Garda Clearance is needed for all new recruits to community employment schemes or just for those working in certain sectors; if clearance is required for existing participants on all schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7707/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Garda vetting only applies to Employment Programme applicants including Community Employment who may come into contact with children and/or vulnerable adults while working on a scheme. The definition of a “child” is a person under the age of 18 years, as per the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012.

The Act’s definition of a “vulnerable person” means a person, other than a child, who - (a ) is suffering from a disorder of the mind, whether as a result of mental illness or dementia, (b ) has an intellectual disability, (c ) is suffering from a physical impairment, whether as a result of injury, illness or age, or (d ) has a physical disability, which is of such a nature or degree— (i) as to restrict the capacity of the person to guard himself or herself against harm by another person, or (ii) that results in the person requiring assistance with the activities of daily living including dressing, eating, walking, washing and bathing.

The types of occupations covered include those working directly with vulnerable people such as childcare, care of the elderly or for people with disabilities and indirectly, where access is possible through the place of work, for example caretaking in community halls, sports coaching, bus driving, grounds-keeping etc. Garda vetting, once complete is deemed relevant for: the programme/project originally applied for; and the duration of participation on the programme/project or for three years, whichever is the shorter. If an existing Garda-vetted participant has reached three years continuous participation, they will be subject to Garda vetting again.