Sir, – Gordon Ryan’s letter (“Garda vetting and child safeguarding can involve multiple processes”, October 26th) raises a frustration familiar to many volunteers.
Only the Garda National Vetting Bureau can explain why vetting disclosures cannot be shared between organisations. But on safeguarding training, I have some good news for him.
Safeguarding 1, the basic child safeguarding awareness course, is recognised across all sporting bodies under the auspices of Sport Ireland. It can be completed through a Local Sports Partnership or through the national governing bodies themselves, and the certificate carries the Sport Ireland logo for that reason.
I have seen it carried seamlessly between the Football Association of Ireland, the IRFU and Tennis Ireland; the GAA accepts it too, though it asks members to complete its own workshop in due course. Volunteers involved in more than one sport need only complete it once, though it does need to be renewed every three years. – Yours, etc,
RM Block
RICHARD E JOYCE,
Former Club Children’s Officer,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin.
