Garda Vetting for Organisations
Don’t Forget
- To carry out a risk assessment of all the roles in your organisation to help you assess whether the person being vetted can build up a relationship or trust with a child or vulnerable adult.
- The Act requires you to carry out a vet before you engage an employee or volunteer. (However you can engage them in non-relevant work).
- Vetting subjects need to be vetted for each individual role that they take up with an organisation, where vetting is required.
- Vetting disclosures must be made available to vetting subjects; therefore you must retain a copy of the disclosure for the length of time that the volunteer or employee is with you.
- You must check, verify and keep proof of the vetting subjects’ identity on file.
- As set out in the Act – all youth leaders, coaches, trainers, religious leaders who work with groups of children, whether alone or accompanied by another adult, must be vetted.
- For the purposes of the Act, a child is someone under the age of 18.
Retrospective vetting needs to be carried out by 31st December 2017.
Our experience
South Dublin County Volunteer Centre was the first local volunteer centre to carry out vetting on behalf of small not for profits. We were also part of the pilot group that worked with the vetting bureau to build the current e-vetting system.
Our team is recognised as a leading expert on vetting issues in Ireland.
Who needs to be vetted?
Any person who is carrying out work or activity, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of the person having access to, or contact with, children (under 18’s) or vulnerable adults. 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. A person who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence.
What is Relevant Work or Activities?
Any work or activities, which is carried out by a person, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of the person having access to, or contact with children or vulnerable persons.
The work or activities where people working with children and vulnerable adult will require vetting include:
- Childcare services – see also below
- Schools
Hospitals and health services - Residential services or accommodation for children or vulnerable persons
- Treatment, therapy or counselling services for children or vulnerable persons
- Provision of leisure, sporting or physical activities to children or vulnerable persons
- Promotion of religious beliefs
A full list of relevant work or activities can be obtained in Part 1 and 2 of Schedule 1 in the Act.
What is a vulnerable adult?
A person, other than a child, who:
Which is of such a nature or degree:
Who are the Registered and Relevant Bodies?
Information about our vetting service
If you would like to find out more or ask about signing up for our service please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 01 . 462 8558 You will need to register with the Centre, attend a training session and sign a Service Level Agreement before we can vet for you.
During your training you will receive all the necessary information and forms to guide you through the process. The administrative fee is €5-€7,50 per form, depending on the type of organisation.
