Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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776. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average timeline for Garda vetting applications to be processed. [16374/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that vetting applications are an operational matter for An Garda Síochána, and neither I, nor my Department, have any role in the processing of individual applications.

I am advised by Garda authorities that there are no backlogs or delays in Garda Vetting at present.

Since the commencement of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016, and the simultaneous rollout of the award winning e-Vetting system, the average vetting processing time has been 3 to 5 working days for 85% of vetting applications received.

I am informed that throughout 2020, 96% of vetting applications received were completed within 5 working days, with 54% of these being completed on the same day they were received.

I am further informed that average period for completion of vetting applications received at the Garda National Vetting Bureau during 2020 was 3 working days.

In 2021, the current turnaround time for vetting applications submitted by organisations utilising the e-Vetting system is 3 to 5 working days for over 85% of vetting applications received.

It is important to note that in a number of instances, it is necessary to conduct enquiries with external Garda Stations and Agencies such as the Courts Service, Probation Service, Child and Family Agency, etc. These enquiries are conducted for a multiplicity of reasons such as verification of identity; updating of incomplete records; and establishing outcomes of investigations. I am advised that in such instances, processing times are significantly longer than the general average.