Garda clearance of volunteers sought by NYF

The National Youth Federation is making an appeal to Justice Minister John O'Donoghue to grant them procedures for garda clearance of their volunteers.

A garda clearance would show whether a person being recruited by an organisation dealing with young people is guilty of a crime against children.

However, voluntary groups do not qualify to seek such a clearance for their recruits.

Gearóid Ó Maolmichil of the National Youth Federation said last night that unless something was done swiftly, then the organisation's numbers would drop off.