Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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944. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of instances in which more than one Garda vetting application was made for the same person within a six-month period in 2019; and the number of instances in which these applications resulted in the disclosure of a conviction. [21991/20]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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953. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda vetting applications that revealed a new conviction in circumstances in which two or more applications were made with respect to a single individual within 3 months, 6 months and a year, respectively. [22252/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 944 and 953 together.

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. I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate the importance of this task and the need for it to be carried out 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.

I am advised that the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) does not track the number of individuals that have made multiple Garda vetting applications as this is not a factor in the vetting process.

I am further advised that the GNVB completed 491,181 Vetting Applications in 2019.