Garda Vetting Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 April 2008

Wednesday, 9 April 2008

Questions (167, 168)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

216 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that delays reportedly of three months in returning Garda vetting applications submitted by the Health Service Executive in Ballymun are preventing persons taking up new positions of employment for which the clearance is required resulting in a loss of earnings in view of the fact that the departure from prior employment normally involves working notice of just one month; the average and maximum vetting turnaround time between the submission by the HSE and others of an application for clearance and the return of such clearance by the Garda vetting unit; and the steps he will take to speed up the process in order to prevent unnecessary loss of earnings. [13447/08]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Brian Lenihan)

The Health Service Executive (HSE) office in Ballymun does not submit vetting application forms directly to the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Rather, the HSE's forms are processed centrally within the HSE's recruitment office in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, which deals directly with the GCVU.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that all vetting application forms received by the GCVU from the HSE are dealt with in the same manner as those received from all other organisations, that is, they are processed in sequential order from the date of receipt. The current, average turnaround time for the processing of correctly completed vetting application forms is approximately five weeks. Significant departures from the average processing time occur only when further, more detailed enquiries are required in specific instances.

In order to meet the increased demand arising since 2006 from the ongoing major expansion in the provision of its vetting service, the GCVU has been in receipt of very significant additional resources, with new personnel joining the Unit in all of the first three months of this year. When all these personnel have completed their induction and training, it is anticipated that processing times will be reduced accordingly.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

217 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who recently moved jobs to take up a position requiring Garda clearance in the Cavan centre and in relation to whom the Health Service Executive in Ballymun submitted a request for clearance to the Garda vetting unit on 13 February 2008 which the vetting unit have as yet failed to return resulting in a loss of earnings because the person is unable to fully commence employment until the clearance is returned; the reason for the delay; and when the clearance will be returned to the HSE in Ballymun. [13448/08]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Brian Lenihan)

The Health Service Executive (HSE) office in Ballymun does not submit vetting application forms directly to the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Rather, the HSE's forms are processed centrally within the HSE's recruitment office in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, which deals directly with the GCVU.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that all vetting application forms received by the GCVU from the HSE are dealt with in the same manner as those received from all other organisations, that is, they are processed in sequential order from the date of receipt. With particular regard to the person in question, I am further informed that the relevant vetting application form was received by the GCVU on 20 February, 2008, and that the corresponding response was approved for return to the HSE on 4 April, 2008.