An Garda Síochána

Thursday, 21 May 2026

Ceisteanna (285, 286, 287)

Erin McGreehan

Ceist:

285. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of outstanding Garda vetting applications for early years childcare workers. [38452/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Erin McGreehan

Ceist:

286. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average processing time for Garda vetting in the early years sector. [38453/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

287. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda vetting applications for early years childcare staff in the last two years; and the current average, shortest and longest processing times. [38454/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 to 287, inclusive, together.

The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. This includes all operational matters, such as Garda vetting applications which are an operational matter for the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 (as amended).

The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) 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.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that up to 30 April 2026, the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) have received 230,370 vetting applications in 2026. There was a total of 633,563 vetting applications received in 2025.

Of the 39,159 applications in progress at the GNVB at the beginning on May

• 61 of these applications are in progress for over 12 weeks.

• 73 applications are in progress for over 8 weeks.

• 2,499 applications are in progress for over 4 weeks.

• The remaining 36,526 were received within the last 4 weeks.

The GNVB publish information on the number of applications received and processed at: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/organised-serious-crime/garda-national-vetting-bureau-gnvb-/garda-vetting-statistics.html

Garda vetting applications are processed on a first-come, first serve basis in chronological order from date of receipt and not on the basis of specific sectors. This is with a view to observing equity and fairness in respect of all vetting subjects.

The current average turnaround time for vetting applications is 15-18 business days from the date the application is received at the GNVB, for 85% of applications received. Some applications take longer than the average processing time for a multiplicity of reasons.

The Government is aware that concerns have been raised regarding certain aspects of the vetting process. I believe that the vetting system should be updated to ensure that the burden of seeking vetting disclosures, particularly on volunteers and organisations working in their communities, is minimised to the greatest extent possible, while maintaining the necessary high standards for this 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.

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.

Question No. 286 answered with Question No. 285.

Question No. 287 answered with Question No. 285.