Garda Vetting
All Heritage in Schools Specialists have undergone Garda Vetting before being included on the panel.
Visits to schools cannot be undertaken until Garda Clearance has been issued.
Heritage in Schools Specialists cannot be accompanied on school visits by un-vetted or non-panel members.
What is Vetting?
The National Vetting Bureau (Children & Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 was signed into law on 26 December 2012. The Act provides for the mandatory vetting of persons to undertake certain work, activities or services, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of having access to or contact with children or vulnerable persons. Essentially, a person cannot work with children or vulnerable persons unless they have been vetted by the National Vetting Bureau.
How is Vetting conducted?
Persons who are subject to Garda Vetting will receive a Vetting Application Form from the Heritage Council. The applicant completes the application form and returns it to the Heritage Council with a colour copy of photographic proof of identity. The applicant must sign the form, thereby providing authorisation for the Garda Vetting process.
Once completed forms have been checked for completeness by the Heritage Council’s nominated person, they will be sent to Create who is registered with the National Vetting Bureau and manages vetting for other organsations similar to the Heritage Council. An invitation to the e-vetting website will be issued to the appliant’s email address shortly thereafter. Once the e-vetting form is submitted to the National Vetting Bureau the application should be processed in approximately 2-3 weeks. Visits to schools cannot be undertaken until Garda Clearance has been issued.
Confidentiality is paramount. All personal information will be treated with the utmost care and will protect the rights and privacy of individuals in compliance with the Data Protection Acts.