Garda vetting duplication is intensifying delays – O’Mahony

Fine Gael TD for Mayo, John O’Mahony, has highlighted the problems being caused by the delays in the Garda vetting system. Speaking in Dail Eireann, Deputy O’Mahony attributed some of the delay to duplication, whereby individuals are being assessed on two or more occasions.

“The Garda vetting process has in recent times become unduly time consuming. Garda vetting is necessary for all people working in agencies that work with children or vulnerable people. For example, if someone is working on a summer job scheme that involves interaction with young people, then they must receive Garda clearance.

“Last week the coordinator of a sports coaching programme in Mayo called ‘Goal to Work’ saw 12 unemployed people become qualified coaches in GAA, soccer and rugby. The course was delivered in Castlebar, Ballina and Ballyhaunis. Each of the coaches had to secure Garda clearance for each of the different disciplines. Instead of 24 people getting their clearance, 72 clearances had to be issued, even though these were the same people and, in many cases, they were coaching the same children.

“When that course finished, one of those to whom I refer was subsequently offered a position as an activities co-ordinator at another venue. The person had been vetted on three separate occasions already. He has been waiting eight weeks and has been told that he must wait another six weeks because he got a CE scheme as a sports co-ordinator and he must be vetted again. It is clear to me from this and other evidence that I have come across that duplication within the vetting process is causing unnecessary delays in the system.

“The time required to vet applicants has in the past been so long that I have known of people who have had to relinquish promised positions because of the delay. I believe that we need to urgently address the delays in the Garda vetting process and in particular the issue of duplication of vetting.”

ENDS