Scouting Ireland, National Office, Larch Hill, Dublin 16, Ireland. T: 01 4956300 www.scouts.ie
Scouting Ireland - Vetting
Policy & Procedure September 2025
Vetting Team
Scouting Irelands Vetting Team is part of the Safeguarding Department. This new procedure (2025) FOR Scouting Ireland members is in accordance with the National Vetting Bureau (Children & Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2013.
NVB Vetting
Since the commencement of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 and 2016 the National Vetting Bureau provide Garda Vetting applicants with the ability to apply online using their Vetting facility.
To apply for vetting and use the Vetting service Scout members must…
• Be over 16 years old
• If aged 16-18 years, have submitted signed “Parent / Guardian” consent NVB3 form
• Have or have access to a valid email address.
• Have access to the Internet.
• Have completed the “Proof of Identity” process – signed by the Group Leader (Or Trustee/delegate of the Group Leader)
• Note that two referees are required, and they cannot be family members and only one can be a Scout member.
Roles accepted by the vetting Bureau – only these roles applied for will be accepted
1. Scouter
2. Scouter/Rover Scout
3. Rover Scout
4. Scout Centre/Campsite Manager/Staff
5. Venture Scout
6. Staff Member who provides Advice and Guidance to Youth Members
7. Adult Supporter – Group Chairperson
8. Provincial Support Officer/Development Support Officer
9. Adult Supporter – Group Secretary
10. Adult Supporter – Group Treasurer
11. Adult Supporter – Group Quartermaster/Bo’sun (Sea Scouts)
12. Adult Supporter – Spiritual Advisor
13. Adult Supporter – Band Member/Entertainments Facilitator
14. Adult Supporter – Special Needs Assistant
15. Volunteer Intern
16. Campsite Office Administrator (CE Scheme)
17. Campsite Maintenance Worker (CE Scheme)
Please see membership policy for the role description
Reg. No. 397094, Charity No. CHY3507, Reg. Office - National Office, Larch Hill, Dublin 16. Scouting Ireland is a company Limited by guarantee exempt from using the word "Limited".
Scouting Ireland, National Office, Larch Hill, Dublin 16, Ireland. T: 01 4956300 www.scouts.ie
Vetting Steps
Step 1
Complete and POST the Application Form
Adults (18 and over):
Fill out the NVB1 vetting form by hand, sign it, and have it signed by your Group Leader. Please note accepted documentation:
Scouting Ireland, National Office, Larch Hill, Dublin 16, Ireland. T: 01 4956300 www.scouts.ie
Youth Applicants (ages 16–18):
Fill out the NVB1 vetting form by hand, sign it, and have it signed by your Group Leader.
Fill out the NVB3 form (Parental Consent Form) by hand, sign it, and have it signed by your Group Leader
Please note accepted documentation:
Provide ID Documents
Show your original ID documents to your Group Leader in person Include copies of those documents with your posted application form.
Checklist:
ü Applicant and Group Leader met in Person
ü Forms fully complete
ü Valid Identification and proof of address shown in-person to the Group Leader ensuring the consent box is ticked
ü Form and copies of identification posted to: Scouting Ireland, National Office, Larch Hill, Dublin 16, D16PO23
ü Incomplete or illegible applications including those with incorrect or invalid identification will be rejected. You will be notified by email and required to restart the application process in full, your application will be shredded.
Step 2
Scouting Ireland, National Office, Larch Hill, Dublin 16, Ireland. T: 01 4956300 www.scouts.ie
Scouting Ireland vetting department validates proof of identity and sends the Scouter an e-mail with a link attached inviting them to complete an online Vetting Link
Step 3
The Scouter completes the Vetting Link.
Step 4
Scouting Ireland Vetting Department reviews the Vetting Application and submits it to the National Vetting Bureau.
Step 5
The National Vetting Bureau processes the application and forwards a vetting disclosure to Scouting Ireland.
Step 6
Scouting Ireland reviews the vetting disclosure and the Scouter profile is updated.
Step 7 – If relevant
Where relevant and a disclosure is returned with a criminal conviction, The Safeguarding Department will complete a risk assessment with the Scouter and determine their suitability to proceed. This process will be done only once for each disclosure and not repeated every three years on future vetting applications. The risk assessment will be maintained by the Safeguarding Department for future reference. These assessments are confidential between Safeguarding and the applicant.
Re Vetting
Scouting Ireland policy that all our adult members re-vet every three years It is the responsibility of the individual Scouter and Group to ensure vetting is in-date. Scouters who’s vetting is out of date MUST ‘stayaway’ from Scouting until their vetting is complete as per the ‘stay away’ policy.
Please note:
• Scouting Ireland reserve the right to request Scouters to reapply for vetting at any time.
• Any Scouter subject to a suspension without prejudice will be required to re-vet prior to a return to Scouting, depending on the individual circumstances and risk assessment.
• Scouting Ireland reserve the right to maintain a copy of a Scouters identification on file for up to 12 months after they leave Scouting Ireland.
GDPR Statement
The personal information collected during the vetting process is used solely for the purpose of Vetting. Your data will be accessed only by Scouting Irelands Safeguarding Team. Hard copies of vetting documentation will be retained in National office for six months, after which they will be scanned and stored securely online. These digital records will be retained for the duration of your membership or until re-vetting is required. After this period, all documentation will be securely deleted in accordance with our data protection policies.” For more information on how we handle your data, please see our Privacy Policy
Reg. No. 397094, Charity No. CHY3507, Reg. Office - National Office, Larch Hill, Dublin 16. Scouting Ireland is a company Limited by guarantee exempt from using the word "Limited".