Garda Vetting for the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare (SAC) sector

(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 came into effect in February 2025.

The 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. Since the 1 February 2025, the following changes came into effect:

· Early Childhood Ireland (ECI) manage Garda Vetting services for all early learning and care, and school-age childcare employees.

· Tusla manage Garda Vetting services for registered providers including Chairpersons of Boards of Management.

· As part of these changes, Barnardos no longer provide vetting services.

This service is 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 Barnardos were your vetting provider 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 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.

Should you have any questions, please contact your local City or County Childcare Committee (CCC).

Find your local CCC 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.

The European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS), established in 2012, enables the secure exchange of criminal records across all EU member states. Each country has a designated Central Authority for Criminal Records, in Ireland, this is the Garda National Vetting Bureau.

As part of EU Directive 2011/93, EU countries are now required to carry out enhanced police checks for sexual offences when processing vetting applications. These changes are being rolled out across the EU.

In coming weeks all Garda Vetting applications must satisfy the terms of this Directive.

Currently, the Garda National Vetting Bureau’s processing times are eight to 10 working days (from when the applicant completes the link).

If an applicant has lived outside of the Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland for 6+ consecutive months or more in an EU country or the UK, their Garda Vetting application will now take longer.

• Up to 10 additional working days for EU countries
• Up to 20 additional working days for the UK

These changes to the Garda Vetting process are being introduced to align with evolving best practices and legal requirements. These changes aim to enhance the efficiency and strength of Child Safeguarding procedures.

Police Clearance Certificates are still required. The enhanced police checks are for sexual offences only and therefore these changes do not replace the existing requirement for Police Clearance Certificates.

It is important to note that if an applicant has lived outside of the Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland for 6+ consecutive months, they must still provide a Police Clearance Certificate from each country they lived in during that time.

It is important to keep these new timelines in mind when planning staff recruitment or vetting renewals. You will need to allow for the extra time for new EU checks under the directive.

Please note that the Garda National Vetting Bureau does not offer an expedited service. Garda Vetting relevant organisations (Early Childhood Ireland and Tusla) cannot accommodate requests to expedite or prioritise Garda Vetting applications.

Please note these changes in the Garda Vetting application process and then plan the timelines around your recruitment and onboarding processes accordingly. Garda Vetting is a critical element of providing safe, quality care for children.

Your Garda Vetting relevant organisation (Early Childhood Ireland and Tusla) will be in contact with you soon to help make this process as clear and manageable for you as possible.