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(A larger version of the infographic above can be downloaded here.
Important changes to the Garda Vetting procedure for the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare (SAC) sector are coming in February 2025.
A new Garda Vetting system has been designed to strengthen and streamline compliance processes to improve efficiencies for everyone. The updates will affect how employers, childminders, and employees apply for or renew their Garda Vetting applications.
Our priority is to safeguard children, keeping them safe in all settings throughout Ireland.
Starting from 1st February 2025 , the following changes will take effect:
• Early Childhood Ireland (ECI) will manage Garda Vetting services for all early learning and care, and school-age childcare employees.
• Tusla will manage Garda Vetting services for registered providers including Childminders, as well as Chairpersons of Boards of Management.
• As part of these changes, Barnardos will no longer provide vetting services.
This service will be provided free of charge. You do not need to become a member of Early Childhood Ireland to access Garda vetting services. We are committed to supporting you throughout this period of change. It is vital that you remain compliant with vetting requirements at all times.
If your current provider is Barnardos and you have employees you will be required to apply for a new Garda Vetting Affiliate Number for Early Childhood Ireland. We recommend that you take a proactive approach in transferring to your new provider to be ready for the 1st February 2025 commencement date and in advance of when you might next need garda vetting services. Please contact the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNBV) at gnvb.registration@garda.ie to progress your Affiliate Number application to ensure you have your new number to process submissions through Early Childhood Ireland.
The process of obtaining a new affiliate number can take several weeks and you will have no access to Garda vetting services during this period. It is therefore important to note that you should only instigate a change in affiliate number when you have no vetting applications in progress and do not anticipate you will need vetting. If a service expects to need vetting between now and 31st January you should wait until after completing your upcoming vetting to proceed with changing affiliate number. It is ok to instigate a change in affiliate number after 31st January.
Please click here for an overview of the new Garda Vetting pathway based on your provider.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your current provider or contact your local City or County Childcare Committee (CCC). Further details and guidance will follow in the coming weeks, including separate information in relation to Garda vetting for childminders.
Find your local CCC here.
Link to Frequently Asked Question here.
The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 provide a statutory basis for the vetting of persons carrying out relevant work with children or vulnerable persons. The Act also creates offences and penalties for persons who fail to comply with its provisions.
The Act stipulates that 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.
Garda vetting is conducted on behalf of registered organisations only and is not conducted for individual persons on a personal basis.
If you are seeking employment or intending to volunteer with an organisation which conducts relevant work, you may be asked to make an application to be vetted.