The Child Safeguarding Manager with the GAA says Garda vetting has prevented potentially harmful individuals from being employed in the organisation.
The first Garda National Vetting Conference was held today which heard that over 520 thousand people were Garda vetted in 2018
That's an increase from 390 thousand in 2016 and85% of these applications were processed within 5 working days or less.
New laws introduced in 2016 mean that organisations have to vet certain staff that deal with children or vulnerable adults.
The conference today heard that a new Compliance Unit set up at the end of last year will be carrying out spot checks on organisations to ensure they're adhering to the legislation.
Child safeguarding manager with the GAA Geraoid O'Maoilmhicil says potentially harmful people are put off by Garda vetting. 'If you've a convicted person out there who may have assaulted a child and realise that if they apply to be a coach in the GAA they have to be vetted, they won't apply. And we have a tiny number, a handful per year that you might refuse because of that'.
