Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2026
369. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if consideration can be given that, when a childcare worker has received Garda vetting within the valid three-year period, that vetting can be transferred to a new childcare service; if the childcare worker moves job, rather than having to submit a brand new vetting application for the new employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31669/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
However, the Government is aware that concerns have been raised regarding certain aspects of the vetting process. Further to the work of an Interdepartmental Vetting Review 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 Department is actively engaging with the Garda National Vetting Bureau on the detailed work of developing the necessary legislative and technical steps to meet these goals in a way that is workable in practice. This includes an assessment of appropriate models for an expansion of digital service delivery, which is a very significant project that will necessarily take time to fully scope and implement.
