Electronic system being developed to speed up Garda vetting procedures

An electronic system is being developed to speed up applications to the Garda to be vetted to work with children and vulnerable people.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has said as well as the new system being developed for the Garda vetting unit, he has also won approval for the deployment of additional civilian staff to the unit.

“This will increase the resources available to deal with vetting applications and speed up the processing of these applications.”

The move has been sanctioned by Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin.

The new e-vetting system is still in the development phase but is being treated as a priority.

It would allow applications to be submitted via a secure online system and to be electronically tracked using that system.

Anecdotal evidence has emerged to suggest that since changes to vetting legislation were introduced allowing gardaí take into account soft intelligence when considering an applicant, the processing time has slowed.

Soft intelligence is information that may not be corroborated or tested, like a criminal prosecution, but may have emerged around a person in the shape of suspicion about his or her character or activities.

A spokeswoman for Mr Shatter said suggestions the average processing time for vetting applications was now 14 weeks were wrong, adding the up to date average waiting time was nine weeks.

Those wishing to work with children or vulnerable people must have Garda vetting before they can take up a post.

The screening is carried out by the Garda vetting unit, staffed by civilians and Garda members, in Thurles, Co Tipperary.