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School Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2022

Tuesday, 28 June 2022

Ceisteanna (732)

Charles Flanagan

Ceist:

732. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice the reason teachers and SNAs that are already Garda vetted to work in their own schools now require new Garda vetting to run a summer provision programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34443/22]

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Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will appreciate, vetting applications are an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. Neither I, as Minister, nor my Department have any role in the processing of individual vetting applications.

The Deputy will be aware that the primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the National Vetting Bureau is to seek to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. It is carried out by An Garda Síochána in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate the importance of this task and the need for it to be carried out thoroughly and correctly.

All Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) staff have continued to work on-site over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, working on a 7-day-week roster to ensure that delivery of this essential public service has been maintained. Throughout this period, the GNVB has focused on ensuring that minimum disruption was caused to the vetting process for the over 26,000 relevant organisations working with children and vulnerable persons across Ireland, despite the huge demands placed on the services of the GNVB.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the current standard turnaround time is approximately 6 working days for most applications. The GNVB has previously communicated with all of the relevant organisations to advise them of the current turnaround times and to assure them that the GNVB continues to process their vetting applications as expeditiously as possible.

The Deputy may be aware that Garda Vetting Review Group was established in April 2021 and meets regularly to discuss proposals regarding potential amendments to vetting legislation. This group includes members of the National Vetting Bureau in An Garda Síochána and officials from my Department, Tusla and other relevant parties. The primary focus of the Group is to deliberate on and formulate recommendations to strengthen the vetting legislation in an effective manner. The Group is due to report by the end of this year. Issues to be considered by the group include any changes which may be possible around the matter of re-vetting.

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