Madam, – I write in support of the CEO of Volunteer Centres Ireland (April 5th) in her concern at the effect of inordinate Garda vetting delays on potential volunteers.
As a Garda vetted volunteer school mentor for Kerry Diocesan Youth Service, and despite being registered with the General Teaching Council, in recent months I have been required to submit further vetting forms for other volunteering activities. I cannot understand why, like so many others, I need to be Garda vetted for each separate volunteer activity. Garda vetting clearance for one activity should be portable and recognised for related activities. Indeed, as member of a recent interview panel I interviewed more than 80 job applicants and noted that although a significant number of interviewees had already recently been positively vetted for their volunteer GAA work they had to be vetted once more. The present system is so wasteful of scarce Garda resources. – Yours, etc,