Minister highlights importance of Garda Vetting Unit

Children's Minister Brendan Smith is visiting the Garda Vetting Unit today to highlight its importance in the area of child protection.

The unit was set up in 2002 and decentralised to Thurles, Co Tipperary, in 2005.

It has been gradually expanded since it was first established and now does background checks on people working in primary and post-primary education, youth organisations such as the scouts and girl guides and some sports organisations.

Its most recent expansion has been to vet people working in the childcare sector.

Minister Smith says the unit will continue to expand until all full-time, part-time and voluntary staff working with children and vulnerable adults are subject to vetting.