Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will explain the four month delay in the issuing of Garda vetting for proposed participants on a FÁS scheme (details supplied); when the necessary clearance will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17207/13]

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, registered with the Unit for this purpose, 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. The current average processing time for applications is approximately 12 weeks from date of receipt. However, seasonal fluctuations and the necessity to seek additional information on particular applications can result in this processing time being exceeded on occasion.

In order to observe equity and fairness in respect of all applicants for Garda Vetting, standard processing procedures are such that applications are processed in chronological order, from the date of receipt at the Central Vetting Unit. All organisations registered for Garda Vetting 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 process. 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 any applications received in respect of the participants referred to in the absence of details such as the names of the participants and dates of birth. If the Deputy will provide the additional information, I will have further enquiries made in the matter.