Garda Vetting

Under the Child Care ( Pre-school Services ) Regulations 2006 , all childcare providers and
H.S.E. notified childminders must avail of Garda Vetting for all of their staff, students and
volunteers. Every service must have evidence of their Garda Vetting on the premises, for
example, an original certificate confirming the completion of the Garda Vetting process.

Article 8 (2) (c) of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 2006 states:

‘Any person carrying on a pre-school service is required to ensure appropriate vetting of
all staff, students and volunteers who have access to a child -

(a) by reference to past employer references in particular the most recent employer reference, in respect of all staff, and

(b) by reference from reputable sources, in respect of all students and volunteers, and

(c) by acquiring Garda vetting from An Garda Siochana when An Garda Siochana have set down
procedures to make such vetting available, and

(d) in circumstances where Garda vetting is not available for staff, students and volunteers who
have lived outside the jurisdiction, by ensuring that these persons provide necessary police
vetting from other police authorities.
Section 8(3) Such vetting procedures shall be carried out prior to any person being appointed or
assigned or being allowed access to a child in the pre-school service.

Good practice would also suggest that you have your existing staff vetted every five years. It
is also important that all childcare services promote and support the welfare and protection of
children through developing appropriate policies, which relate to recruitment, child protection,
training and garda vetting practices in their childcare service for staff and volunteers.

Below are contact details of organisations that carry out the Garda Vetting process for childcare providers:

Barnardos Vetting Service,

The Bowling Green, White Street, Cork.

Phone: 021 4547060 Website:

www.barnardos.ie/vettingservice.htm

NCNA

Unit 12c, Bluebell Business Park, Old Naas Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12

Phone: 01 4601138