Garda vetting in Irish schools is a mandatory process under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016 for anyone performing relevant work with children or vulnerable adults.
Schools are legally required to obtain a vetting disclosure from the Garda National Vetting Bureau before a person starts their role. The process involves completing a Vetting Invitation Form (NVB1), providing identification, and the school forwarding the application for processing. The NVB then conducts checks and provides a disclosure to the organisation, which is then shared with the applicant.
Who Needs to be Vetted?
- All personnel working or volunteering in a school who have contact with children or vulnerable persons.
- This includes teachers, non-teaching staff, and certain volunteers.
- Chairpersons of the Board of Management.
- Vetting Invitation Form (NVB1): The individual completes the first two sections of the NVB1 form, and the school completes the remaining section.
- Proof of Identity: The applicant must provide documents to verify their identity and address, which the school checks and copies.
- Application Submission: The school forwards the completed NVB1 form to the Garda National Vetting Bureau (NVB) for processing.
- Online Vetting Application: The NVB sends the applicant an online invitation to complete the full eVetting application form.
- Disclosure: The NVB conducts the background checks and sends the vetting disclosure to the school, which retains it for their records.
- Legal Requirement: It is a criminal offense for a school not to comply with its vetting obligations.
- Re-Vetting: Individuals may be required to undergo periodic re-vetting, though current rules vary depending on the specific role and organisation.
- For Minors: For applicants under 18, a Parent/Guardian Consent Form (NVB 3) must be completed.
- Application Process: Schools cannot accept applications directly from individuals; they must process applications on their behalf.
