The number of vetting applications received for the requested time periods is set out in the following table. However, the more detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and its compilation would necessitate a disproportionate amount of staff time and effort.
|
Year
|
Applications received
|
Turnaround times
|
|
2014
|
315,138
|
4 weeks for 80% of applications received
|
|
2015
|
335,427
|
4 weeks for 80% of applications received
|
|
2016 (31 May 2016)
|
129,651
|
4 weeks for 80% of applications received
|
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current average processing time for vetting applications is four weeks. However, in some individual cases additional enquiries may be necessary which may involve authorities other than An Garda Síochána and this may result in processing times in excess of the average.
Any vetting process will take a certain minimum amount of time to complete and, taking into account the importance of measures to protect children and vulnerable adults while providing an effective and efficient service, the current period is not unreasonable.
The Deputy may also wish to know that An Garda Síochána launched an 'e-vetting' system on 29 April 2016 which will facilitate the processing of applications in an on-line format, thus removing the current time-consuming process of manual applications. E-vetting will further streamline the vetting process and contribute to sustaining reduced processing times for vetting applications. The e-vetting system is designed to be compatible with the requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 and, in this regard, was launched in tandem with the commencement of the Acts.
