The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a large number of organisations in Ireland which are registered with the GCVU and which employ personnel to work in a full-time, part time, voluntary or student capacity with children and/or vulnerable adults. The Teaching Council is the organisation registered with the Garda Central Vetting Unit to submit Garda Vetting applications in respect of new teachers.
I am informed by the Garda Authorities that all applications received from the Teaching Council in respect of new teachers are processed in accordance with the GCVU's standard operating procedures and the results in respect of each individual applicant are disclosed to the registered organisation. I am further informed by the Garda Authorities that discussions are ongoing regarding the process of vetting of existing teachers, in the context of the continuing expansion and enhancement of Garda vetting. These vetting applications will also be submitted through the Teaching Council. This process is expected to commence during 2010.
The current average processing time for valid vetting applications received at the GCVU is approximately 6 weeks. This processing time may fluctuate due to seasonal demands and the volume of applications received. The timeframe may be longer in cases where further enquiries need to be made in individual cases. A total of 78 personnel is assigned to the GCVU at present, the same allocation as at this time in 2009.
