CHILD PROTECTION groups have expressed major concern over the findings of a Sunday Tribune investigation that has revealed that almost 60% of children’s summer camps do not have their staff vetted by gardaí before they have access to children.

“Sixty per cent of these camps not having garda vetting their staff at these summer camps is a concern. That is a very high level and it’s just not good enough,” said Norah Gibbons, director of Advocacy at Barnardos.

“We know from the history of child abuse in this country that abusers will find ways to get access to them. Good practice and common sense suggests that all volunteers and staff working at summer camps should have been fully vetted by gardaí.”

Gibbons added that the National Vetting Bureau Bill, due to be published soon, will make it mandatory by law for all employees working at summer camps to be vetted by gardaí or face prosecution.

“This new legislation will put an end to the current situation. This is what has to happen because it cannot continue. We do not believe that people running these summer camps are aware that they should be getting their staff vetted in the interests of safety for children. This law will make the situation clearer.”

Just five out of 13 children’s summer camps around the country contacted last week said they ensured all their staff were vetted by gardaí, meaning that almost 60% of the summer camps do not require staff to get a written acknowledgment from gardaí confirming they don’t have a criminal conviction for crimes against children.

Dr Niall Muldoon, national clinical director of Cari (Children at Risk in Ireland), said “something needs to be immediately done” about the lack of garda vetting of staff at summer camps.

“Often, these camps are run by teenagers and local groups. There is a major weak point here in terms of child protection. We would urge all summer camps to ensure all their staff are fully vetted by gardaí. We know that people who abuse children often move around the country. Summer camps and garda vetting is not an area that has ever been focused on and there are more and more camps each summer,” he said.

Caroline O’Sullivan, director of services at the ISPCC, said the lack of garda vetting for summer camp staff was a “dangerous practice”. She urged parents to ask questions and said they “need to be vigilant about whose care they are leaving their children in this summer”.

VETTED SUMMER CAMPS THAT ENSURE ALL STAFF ARE VETTED BY GARDAI

1. Nzone Summer Camp, Kinsealy, Dublin. A range of sports and arts activities for children aged four upwards.

2. The Gaiety School of Acting and Theatre, Dublin. Summer camps in acting, theatre and drama for children.

3. Limerick’s CentreStage Summer Camp, St Alphonsus Street, Limerick. Acting, singing and dancing summer camps for children.

4. Glee Club Summer Camps. Aged 8 to 18 summer camps in singing, dancing and acting. Camps in Wicklow, Leitrim, Edenderry and various locations around Dublin.

5. Mór Active, adventure summer camps for children aged five up in south west Kerry.

NOT VETTED: CAMPS THAT CONFIRMED SOME STAFF HAVEN'T BEEN VETTED BY GARDAÍ

1. Surfdock Kids Summer Camp, Grand Canal Basin in Dublin. Weekly summer camps for children with windsurfing, sailing, surfbikes and kayaking for children aged 8 to 16. When asked if they provided garda vetting, a spokesman said: “We don’t do garda vetting. But all our staff are fully qualified instructors. We don’t do any background checks. But if it’s any comfort we haven’t had any weirdos.”

2. Kids Inc Summer Camps at Swords, Ranelagh, Rathmines, Rathfarnham and Dublin 1, for boys and girls, aged 3 to 9. Activities include arts and crafts, sports and games. A spokesman said: “There is a four-month delay with the gardaí for vetting. Most of our staff have them but not all of them do.”

3. DMG Sailsports Windsurfing & Sailing Camps Malahide Yacht Club, Broadmeadows Estuary. Children aged 9 to 17. A spokesman said: “No, we don’t have garda vetting. The Irish Sailing Association is developing procedures to do this with the gardaí but it’s not in place yet.”

4. Summer Cookery Camp, Killahane, Firies, Killarney, for children aged 6 upwards. A spokeswoman said: “No, we don’t use garda vetting.”

5. Summer Pony Camp, Slieve Aughty Centre, Kylebrack West, Loughrea, Galway. Children aged five and upwards. “No, we don’t have garda vetting. But our staff have gone on child protection courses.”

6. Killary Adventure Company, Leenane, Galway. For children aged 8 upwards. Children stay overnight at the summer camps or as day visitors. When asked about garda vetting a spokeswoman said: “No, it’s not a requirement by law in Ireland.”

7. Delphi Summer Camp, Connemara. Ocean, mountain and forest adventures for children. Children stay overnight at the summer camps or as day visitors. A spokeswoman said: “Not all our staff are vetted by gardaí . Our senior staff are vetted by gardaí . We have about 10 senior staff and 45 junior staff at peak times in summer.”

8. Donegal Pony Camp, in Bundoran. A spokeswoman said: “No, our staff haven’t been vetted by gardaí . But they have child protection certificates.”