702. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to address delays in the Garda vetting process, particularly for the early education and childcare sector, where providers report waiting up to eight weeks for vetting clearance for new employees; the impact these delays are having on services’ ability to meet statutory staff-to-child ratios and maintain capacity; whether consideration has been given to introducing alternative interim measures, such as recognising a valid Garda vetting disclosure obtained through another regulated employer or service, pending completion of a new vetting application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49203/26]

Garda vetting is an essential part of ensuring the safeguarding of children and it is the legal responsibility of the registered provider to ensure statutory vetting obligations are complied with and maintained at all times.

The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 provide a statutory basis for the vetting of persons carrying out relevant work with children or vulnerable persons. The Act stipulates that a relevant organisation shall not permit any person to undertake relevant work or activities on behalf of the organisation, unless the organisation receives a vetting disclosure from the National Vetting Bureau in respect of that person. All early years services are considered to undertake relevant work or activities for the purposes of this Act. This Act falls under the remit of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.

The Department engages on an ongoing basis with the Garda National Vetting Bureau to discuss operational issues and to ensure the sector is kept up to date on any vetting changes affecting Early Years services. We will continue to liaise with the GNVB to support the sector. Understanding the potential impact delays have on service provision, the Department is currently engaging with the Garda National Vetting Bureau and officials in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to the effects of any delays in the Garda Vetting system on the Early Years sector at present.

Early Childhood Ireland (ECI), who the Department funds to administer Garda Vetting for staff working in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare settings, have advised that a standard fully complete Garda Vetting application currently takes 15-20 working days to process by the Garda National Vetting Bureau. If the applicant has lived and/or lives in another EU country or the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), their Garda Vetting application can take up to 10 additional working days for EU countries and up to 20 additional working days for the UK. These processing times are across all Garda Vetting applications and are not sector-specific.

A Garda vetting disclosure is non-transferrable between organisations. This means a service is required to make a new vetting application in respect of a new employee even if they have Garda vetting from a previous organisation.

Any changes in how vetting disclosures are made to relevant organisations would be a matter for the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.