Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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623. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the delay in the processing of Garda vetting for early childhood professionals, which can take in excess of ten weeks; if she has raised this with the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality; if priority will be given in view of the importance of vetting in this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2555/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am aware that there have been difficulties in relation to obtaining vetting disclosures for early years staff. I understand that these difficulties do not relate to the National Vetting Bureau, but to administrative procedures associated with processing applications. My Department provides funding to two organisations, Early Childhood Ireland and Barnardos, to process vetting applications for the early years sector. I have provided additional funding to both organisations to assist the clearance of the backlog of vetting applications that built up during the changeover from paper to e-vetting. In addition, officials from my Department will be meeting with both organisations this week to discuss the administration of vetting applications, with the objective of endeavouring to ensure that the process works as efficiently as possible in the interest of early years services and the children attending those services.