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.
Starting from 1 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
Chairpersons of Boards of Management. - As part of these changes, Barnardos will no longer provide 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 1
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 31 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 31 January.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your current provider or
contact your local City or County Childcare Committee. Further details and guidance will
follow in the coming weeks, including separate information in relation to Garda vetting for
childminders.
