Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2026
161. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding any engagement he has with the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to the delays in processing Garda vetting application for new hires in childminding facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29104/26]
View answer162. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on the merits of creating a priority scheme under Garda vetting for new hires in childminding facilities; if this is something that is under review, if he will engage with the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality on this proposal to reflect the serious impact that processing delays are having on the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29106/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.
The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. This requires a robust Garda vetting process that reassures the public, and in particular parents, that appropriate checks are conducted on people taking on positions of trust.
Responsibility for policy in relation to the childcare and childminding sector rests with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. That Department, together with Tusla, engages directly with the Garda National Vetting Bureau on operational matters affecting the sector.
The Interdepartmental Vetting Review Group was chaired by my Department and comprised representatives of the following Departments and Agencies:
• An Garda Síochána
• Tusla
• Public Appointments Service
• Department of Education
• Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
• Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
• Health Service Executive
• Department of Foreign Affairs.
The group took a careful and thorough approach, as was necessary in meeting its aim of ensuring that the vetting system remains robust and effective as a crucial safeguard for the most vulnerable members of society, that is children and vulnerable adults, while also improving the service to customers.
While a range of reform measures were considered, I am advised that a proposal for a priority vetting scheme for new hires in childminding facilities was not examined as part of the group's work. Any consideration of such will be a matter for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in its engagement with the Garda National Vetting Bureau and relevant stakeholders.
Further to work of the group it is clear that aspects of the current vetting system result in a highly-segmented process. I have therefore directed that steps be taken to implement a number of key changes, specifically in relation to re-vetting and the portability of vetting.
These changes will require amending legislation and updated technical systems to support the revised approach, to make the process more efficient for volunteers and organisations, without compromising the essential safeguards that protect those in our care.
My engagement with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality took place in the context of the Interdepartmental Vetting Review Group. Since the conclusion of this work, there has been no specific engagement between both Departments in relation to delays in the processing of vetting applications for new hires in childminding facilities.
