Dear Provider,
We are writing to inform you of important changes to the Garda Vetting procedure for the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare (SAC) sector.
The new Garda Vetting system has been designed to strengthen and streamline compliance processes to improve efficiencies for everyone. The updates will affect how employers, childminders, and employees apply for or renew their Garda Vetting applications.
Our priority is to safeguard children, keeping them safe in all settings throughout Ireland.
Starting from 1 February 2025, the following changes will take effect:
• Early Childhood Ireland (ECI) will manage Garda Vetting services for all early learning and care, and school-age childcare employees.
• Tusla will manage Garda Vetting services for registered providers including Chairpersons of Boards of Management.
• As part of these changes, Barnardos will no longer provide vetting services.
We are committed to supporting you throughout this period of change. It is vital that you remain compliant with vetting requirements at all times.
If your current provider is Barnardos and you have employees, you will be required to apply for a new Garda Vetting Affiliate Number for Early Childhood Ireland. We recommend that you take a proactive approach in transferring to your new provider to be ready for the 1 February 2025 commencement date and in advance of when you might next need garda vetting services.
Please contact the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNBV) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to progress your Affiliate Number application to ensure you have your new number to process
submissions through Early Childhood Ireland.
The process of obtaining a new affiliate number can take several weeks and you will have no access to Garda vetting services during this period. It is therefore important to note that you should only instigate a change in affiliate number when you have no vetting applications in progress and do not anticipate you will need vetting. If a service expects to need vetting between now and 31 January, you should wait until after completing your upcoming vetting to proceed with changing affiliate number. It is ok to instigate a change in affiliate number after 31 January.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your current provider or contact your local City or County Childcare Committee. Further details and guidance will follow in the coming weeks, including separate information in relation to Garda vetting for childminders.
Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to implement these new procedures.
Regards,
Early Years Division