Below we have provided you with a list of Garda Vetting Frequently Asked Questions, to assist you in the Garda Vetting application process:
- Why have I been asked to apply for Garda Vetting?
- Can I refuse to apply for Garda Vetting?
- What if I already have documentation from the Garda Vetting Unit?
- What if I have worked in the United Kingdom?
- What if I have lived elsewhere overseas?
- How do I apply for Garda Vetting?
- What will it cost?
- Who will receive my information?
- When will I receive my Garda Vetting letter?
- How do I know that the information contained on my form will be kept confidential?
- For how long will my Garda Vetting be valid?
- Do parents who go on Outings with the Pre-School Service need to be Garda Vetted?
- Do people coming in to do talks or demonstrations need to be Garda Vetted?
Why have I been asked to apply for Garda Vetting?
You may have been asked for Garda Vetting because you will be working with children; or will be working as an employee/board member of an organisation that is wholly or mainly for children.
Can I refuse to apply for Garda Vetting?
There is a legal obligation under the Pre-School Regulations (2006) for those working directly with pre-school children to have been Garda Vetted. Organisations may make it compulsory to have been Garda Vetted. A childcare employer may choose to withdraw the offer of a position if a candidate declines to apply under this process.
What if I already have documentation from the Garda Vetting Unit?
Garda Vetting is only given for a specific employment so when a person is changing employment it is good practice to renew Garda Vetting.
What if I have worked in the United Kingdom?
If you have worked in the United Kingdom (including England, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) you will need to provide a Police Certificate:
Below we have provided you with the necessary information for applying for Police Clearance in the United Kingdom:
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The person needing the vetting must apply himself/herself.
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He/she should contact the Police Headquarters for the county in which he/she lived.
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From their Data Protection office get a subject access request form.
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Fill and return with Proof of identity as requested and 10 pounds sterling.
It takes a Statutory maximum time of 40 days, but generally does not take that long
If you are Applying Online
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Go to the police website of the county in which he/she lived.
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Find their Data Protection office/ Freedom of Information.
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Next go to Request for personal information.
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Download a subject access form. Fill and return with Proof of identity as requested and 10 pounds sterling.
If you worked in Scotland:
you can write to-
Disclosure Scotland
P.O. Box 250
Glasgow, Scotland
G51 1YU
Email: (Enable Javascript to see the email address)
Web: disclosurescotland.co.uk
What if I have lived elsewhere overseas?
Please provide all previous addresses when applying for Garda Vetting. The Garda Central Vetting Unit is currently working together with other Police Forces to put systems in place to ensure full information is available.
How do I apply for Garda Vetting?
If you are a member of Early Childhood Ireland you can download a copy of the garda vetting form or you can phone 01-4630032 for a form (forms if you have staff).
No payment is required and the forms will be forwarded by return of post.
You can use our Garda Vetting Checklist for help in filling out the form. Once you or your individual staff members have completed the application form/s they should be forwarded directly to Early Childhood Ireland, Section 10.
Care should be taken that forms are fully completed, details are correct and that the declaration is signed.
What will it cost?
There is currently no fee for Early Childhood Ireland members to make application through the organisation.
Who will receive my information?
Your information will be dealt with by the designated staff personnel in Early Childhood Ireland and by the relevant personnel in the Garda Central Vetting Unit in Thurles.
Designated Early Childhood Ireland staff personnel dealing with the completed application form will:
(i) comply with Early Childhood Ireland Policies and Procedures in this matter,
(ii) have undergone training specific for this work, and
(iii) have been Garda Vetted themselves.
When will I receive my Garda Vetting letter?
When Early Childhood Ireland has completed the process of verification of the application form and has a batch of forms (a minimum of 20 forms) as directed by the Garda Central Vetting Unit, the forms will be forwarded to Thurles for processing.
When the returns are received and logged in Early Childhood Ireland the vetting letter (and disclosures, if any) and original application form will be returned to the requesting the childcare service/organisation i.e. the prospective/current employer.
The timeframe on this process is currently 14-15 weeks.
How do I know that the information contained on my form will be kept confidential?
Early Childhood Ireland is a registered body with designated staff personnel, trained by the Garda Central Vetting Unit and who have been Garda Vetted themselves.
Early Childhood Ireland is working in the interest of safe environments and practices for children and adults and is committed to the highest standards of security and confidentiality.
Information will only be given to authorised personnel.
For how long will my Garda Vetting be valid?
Each Vetting Letter will show the date on which it was issued, therefore, the older the letter, the less reliable it is. At present there is no actual expiry date but it is expected that renewal will be within a 5 year cycle.
Do parents who go on Outings with the Pre-School Service need to be Garda Vetted?
Parents who go on outings with the pre-school service do not require Garda Vetting as they do not have unsupervised access to the children.
The staff of the pre-school service should have been Garda Vetted and can therefore provide the supervision necessary on the outings.
Do people coming in to do talks or demonstrations need to be Garda Vetted?
Garda Vetting is not required for such visitors who are sharing their skills/expertise with the children in the pre-Sschool Service. These visitors are under the supervision of the staff who are already Garda Vetted and therefore, do not have unsupervised access to the children.
