Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
962. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the average delay for decisions to be made on Garda vetting applications; the steps he is taking to streamline the process because of the effect it is having on staffing resources in health settings especially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16804/23]
View answer973. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for Garda vetting received from January 2022 to date by the Garda National Vetting Bureau; the average length of time it took to process an individual application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17246/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 962 and 973 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including responsibility for the Garda vetting system.
Additionally, the National Vetting Bureau Act 2012 makes it the responsibility of the Chief Bureau Officer of the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB), to establish and maintain the database of the Bureau. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
However, I am advised by An Garda Síochána that there are no backlogs or delays in Garda vetting. In 2022, the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) received over 549,000 applications, the highest-ever number.
I am further advised that from 1 January 2023 to date, the GNVB has received 154,445 vetting applications. This is a marked increase on the 145,768 applications received in the same period in 2022, with the Bureau working seven days per week in an effort to process the unprecedented numbers of applications.
The Bureau cannot advise the average length of time it took to process an individual application. Nonetheless, the average turnaround time for vetting applications where there is no need to take any further action or make any further enquiries has, since the start of 2023, been seven working days. Therefore, applications are processed within the target turnaround time.
I am also informed that the turnaround time for standard vetting of hosts for Ukrainian families and aviation vetting continues to be one working day.
The Bureau advise that, in a number of instances, it is necessary for them to conduct enquiries for a multiplicity of reasons within An Garda Síochána and with relevant stakeholders. Therefore, processing times for such applications are significantly longer than the general average.
The Bureau has communicated with all relevant stakeholders to advise them of the current turnaround times and to assure them that they continue to process vetting applications as expeditiously as possible.
I can advise the Deputy that the Garda Vetting Review Group was established in April 2021 and meets regularly to discuss potential amendments to vetting legislation. This group includes members of the GNVB in An Garda Síochána, officials from my Department, from Tusla, and from other relevant stakeholders.
The primary focus of the Group is strengthening the vetting legislation in an effective manner, including any changes that may be possible in relation to multi-purpose vetting or re-vetting. As per action 10 in Justice Plan 2023, which is available on the Department’s website, I expect to receive the Group’s report by the end of Q2.
