Vetting                                                             

Who needs to be vetted in the GAA?

Garda Vetting through the GAA is a statutory requirement under the National Vetting Bureau (Children & Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016 for the mandatory vetting of persons who wish to undertake certain activities relating to children or vulnerable persons. In the GAA any person who carries out a role of responsibility such as coaching, managing or training underage teams that contain any player under 18 yrs. of age must be vetted. It also applies to organising underage activities or refereeing underage games.

An individual or unit deemed to breach the requirement may face a non-compliance sanction under our Child Safeguarding Policy.

Garda vetting is non- transferable to other organisations and Garda Vetting from other organisations cannot be accepted by the GAA.

How can you be vetted through the GAA?

The GAA Vetting System is now part of our membership system on Foireann.

Step 1 Applicant and Validator complete the Identity Documentation (In-person)

The applicant must print and complete the GAA NVB1 Invitation Form and meet their Club Children’s Officer (CCO) in person.

The applicant will provide:

• completed GAA NVB1 Invitation Form to their CCO
• a copy of photo ID (must comply with accepted documentation table)
• a copy proof of address (must comply with accepted documentation table)

Your CCO, who is the Validator, will complete and sign off the GAA Identity Document Validation Form in your presence and shall retain the hard copy of your GAA NVB1 Invitation form for six months.

You must take a copy (or a photo) of the completed GAA NVB1 Invitation Form and the Identity Document validation Form.

It is a requirement by the Garda National Vetting Bureau that an individual seeking vetting is validated that the individual is who they say they are. Therefore, you must provide proof of your identity to be vetted. You must complete this requirement at the initial step of your application, failure to do so will see your application rejected.

The full list of documents which are accepted for verification can be found here

Step 2 Create an account/Logging in to Foireann

Create an account or Log in to Foireann to begin the vetting process.

Select the Club that you are a member of and wish to be vetted under. Your Club will then approve your membership.

If you have difficulties in creating an account or logging in please check out our help desk Logging into Foireann – Gaelic Athletic Association

Step 3 Gaelic Games Vetting Invitation Form

• Log in to Foireann and check that all current details on your profile are correct and complete e.g. Date of birth, Eircode/Postcode and email address
• Click on Qualifications and Vetting Tab
• Click on the ‘Apply to be Vetted’ Tab then select your Club and or Association you wish to be vetted for and the role you are applying for vetting**. A list of roles can be found here.*
• Upload a copy or screenshot of all documents and forms validated by your CCO as part of your vetting application.

Click here for guidance on how to complete Gaelic Games Vetting Invitation Form

Step 4 Completing the Garda National Vetting Bureau (NVB) EVetting Process

• Once you complete the GAA NVB1 Invitation Form the information provided is forwarded to the NVB by the GAA.
• You will receive an email to your email address on your Foireann profile with NVB Vetting Invitation to complete (please be vigilant for this email)
• Complete this invitation immediately as it expired after 30 days and the process will have to recommence. Include all details requested.
• Under EU Directive 93 you must answer whether you have lived in the UK or EU and if so, provide the dates and addresses.
• All roles that require vetting for the GAA are roles that involve working with children – please answer ‘Yes’ to this question.
• Completing this form is a confidential matter between you and the NVB. All sections of the form including current and previous addresses, email address and contact telephone numbers, information on convictions and prosecutions (if any) are required when processing your application.
• Please ensure that if you have lived in an address in Northern Ireland that you enter the Postcode for the address.
• Once all sections of the form have been completed your application process for EVetting will return to the GAA for review and if complete it will be sent to the Garda NVB for processing.
• In a period of time determined by the Garda NVB and the GAA, you shall be contacted by the GAA to inform you as to the outcome of the vetting application.

Please Note

Do not contact the National Vetting Bureau (NVB) regarding your application as they are unable to deal with individual requests from GAA applicants. If you have a query regarding your application, please contact the GAA by emailing evetting@gaa.ie

You and your CCO will be notified when the vetting process has been completed.

A person must be in receipt of a vetting acceptance letter before they can commence their role.

Each of the three Gaelic Games Associations recognise each other’s vetting.

Revetting in the GAA

Vetting in the GAA is for a three-year period. If you are required to be revetted then you must complete a new application by completing Steps 1 to 4.