Danny Healy-Rae asks for Garda vetting to be streamlined
Danny Healy-Rae asked the Taoiseach in the Dáil about delays and duplication in Garda vetting that affect school buses, creches, volunteers and escorts. He pressed for a review after noting vetting can take three to seven weeks and is often repeated for the same individuals.
Issue raised
Danny Healy-Rae set out examples where people are required to be Garda vetted multiple times - drivers, escorts and volunteers who work across schools, creches and sports clubs. He argued the current practice causes long waits and practical problems for communities who rely on short-term help.
Legislative constraint cited
The Taoiseach acknowledged the importance of Garda vetting but said current legislation appears to oblige repeated vetting for different roles. He agreed there is a case to be made for some streamlining and pledged to raise the matter with the Minister.
Impact and next steps
Healy-Rae warned that repeated checks can mean vetted drivers cannot help a neighbour or volunteer because they lack a second clearance. He called on government to examine whether a single appropriate vetting could cover similar roles to reduce delays and keep child-safety protections in place.
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Thank you very much Ciann Comhairle. Taoiseach, Garda vetting is a process, an important process to ensure the safety of children in many settings, schools, creches, sports clubs, school buses for bus drivers and escorts and it takes at least three to seven weeks in instances to get Garda vetted. The question I have for Taoiseach is could the process be streamlined because many people find themselves have to be Garda vetted three or four times if they're driving a school bus, if they're walking with school, even as a volunteer with school children, people walking creches if they want to walk in different creches and go back to the school buses. I could have a driver Garda vetted and he can't drive for the fellow down the road who may be stuck for a driver of a morning and because he needs to be Garda vetted by that person as well. Taoiseach to respond now Deputy, you've asked the question and your time is up. Taoiseach to respond. Deputy, you're being unfair to your colleagues. I think there's, first of all I will raise the issue that you have raised with the Minister, Garda vetting is an important mechanism but the legislation, from my understanding, the legislation provides for or obliges repeated securing of vetting for different functions or different roles. There is a case to be made for some streamlining of that if someone, a teacher for example, or an escort receives Garda vetting, well then I take the point that a month later if there's activity, do you need a second sort of Garda vetting? I think there's a need to look at that.
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