Fingal Volunteer Garda Vetting Service
FAQ for Volunteers about Garda Vetting
Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page about Garda vetting for volunteers! Garda vetting is a process aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable populations within our organisation and community. Here are some common questions about Garda vetting:
Garda vetting is a process where the The Garda Vetting Bureau check if someone has a criminal record or any other information that might affect their ability to do certain jobs, especially those involving children or vulnerable people. It’s like a background check to make sure people are safe to work in certain roles.
If you’re working or volunteering with children or vulnerable adults in Ireland, Garda vetting is required. This process ensures you don’t have a criminal record or any history that could harm vulnerable individuals.
No, you can’t request Garda vetting by yourself. Vetting must be requested through a registered organisation.
Your organisation will ask you to fill out, sign, and date a Garda Vetting Invitation Form (NVB 1). You’ll also need to show proof of your address such as a utility bill and a recent Photo ID to confirm who you are.
Addresses within the island of Ireland:
Where possible, full details must be provided for Irish addresses. If you cannot remember all addresses, ensure to provide as much detail as possible and leave no blanks e.g.
2001 – 2005: Main Street, Cork will most likely be rejected
Instead enter 2001 – 2005: Unknown house number, Main Street, Cork
Please note that Northern Ireland address must have a full postcode. If you have an address in Northern Ireland but cannot remember the postcode, you can use the Royal Mail Postcode and Address Finder tool to search for it. If you are still unable to locate the full postcode, entering ‘unknown postcode’ is sufficient.
Once you finish the Garda Vetting Invitation Form and submit the required documents, you’ll get an email with a link from the National Garda Vetting Bureau. Click the link to complete the vetting process. You’ll need to provide your previous addresses and any criminal history you may have.
Yes. A Garda vetting application that discloses a criminal record does not mean you are ineligible to volunteer. Most organisation will consider your application providing you are upfront and honest. However, it is entirely up to the organisation whether they offer you the position.
Once you have completed the relevant documentation and your application has been process by the centre you will receive an invitation link (you will has 30 days to fill out the link). It takes approximately one to two weeks for the forms to be processed by the National Vetting Bureau and sent back to us, however, some applications can take longer than others.
A disclosure cert is the name of the form that is returned to the organisation once you has been vetted. It does not mean there is a criminal record disclosure, it is simply the name of the document.
If you would like a copy of your disclosure cert you will need to request this directly from your organisation.
