Written answers

Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Department of Justice and Equality

Garda Vetting Applications

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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329. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting a long time for a Garda vetting application. [3931/20]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that the primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the National Vetting Bureau is to seek to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. It is carried out by An Garda Síochána primarily in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016. It is, as I am sure the Deputy will agree, a very important task which must be done thoroughly and correctly.

My Department has no role in the processing of individual vetting applications.

I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that the Vetting Bureau works to ensure that the processing time for vetting applications is kept to the minimum necessary in order to ensure that the statutory obligation to receive a vetting disclosure prior to permitting any person to undertake relevant work or activities on behalf of an organisation can be facilitated without undue delay.

All Garda vetting applications are processed on a first come, first served basis in chronological order from date of receipt. This is with a view to observing equity and fairness in respect of all vetting subjects.

In respect of certain applications, it is necessary for the Vetting Bureau to conduct further enquiries; for example to confirm information provided by the applicant with external bodies. The time required to receive such information may be outside of the control of the Vetting Bureau. In such instances, processing times may be significantly longer than the average.

However I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in general, the vetting process is working well and that there are no backlogs or delays in Garda vetting at present.

This efficiency has been achieved by the deployment of the e-vetting system which facilitates the on-line processing of applications for vetting from registered organisations. The general turnaround time for vetting applications submitted by organisations utilising the e-vetting system is 4 working days for over 85% of applications received.

Individual applicants can also track the process of their application online using the e-vetting tracking system, details of which are contained in the email received by applicants when completing their application online.

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