Garda vetting is an important process to ensure the safety of children in many settings, such as schools, creches and sports clubs and, in the case of bus drivers and escorts, school buses. It takes at least three to seven weeks in some instances to get Garda vetted. Could this process be streamlined? Many people find themselves having to be Garda vetted three or four times if they are driving a school bus or working with schoolchildren, even as a volunteer. People working in creches have to do it if they want to work in different creches. Going back to the school buses, I could have a driver who is Garda vetted but cannot drive for the fella down the road who might be stuck for a driver of a morning because he would need to be Garda vetted for that person as well.

The Taoiseach to respond.

Could it be streamlined? Could we have a card or something like a driver's licence-----

The Deputy has asked the question and his time is up.

----that would show a person had vetting for a number of years? The card could be used in each place.

The Deputy is being unfair to his colleagues.

I will raise the issue with the Minister. Garda vetting is an important mechanism but, from my understanding, the legislation provides for or obliges repeated securing of vetting for different functions or roles. There is a case to be made for some streamlining of that. If a teacher or escort, for example, receives Garda vetting, then I take the point that there is a need to look at whether they should need a second Garda vetting for another activity a month later.