Important: This is general information, not legal advice or a determination that any club or person is compliant. Check current legislation and your governing body's rules.
Short answer: Garda Vetting and safeguarding training serve different purposes. Vetting is a statutory disclosure process for relevant work or activities. Safeguarding training teaches people how to apply child-welfare and protection practices. Completing one does not establish completion of the other.
Garda Vetting
The National Vetting Bureau conducts vetting on behalf of registered relevant organisations. The disclosure goes to the relevant organisation, which remains responsible for its recruitment and suitability decision.
Safeguarding training
Sport Ireland describes three safeguarding workshops. Safeguarding 1 is basic child-welfare and protection awareness. Safeguarding 2 is directed to the Club Children's Officer role, and Safeguarding 3 to the Designated Liaison Person role. Sport Ireland says coaches, Club Children's Officers and Designated Liaison Persons must first complete Safeguarding 1, with further role-specific guidance set out on its training page.
Track them separately
A club record should distinguish the vetting route and status from the training course, completion date and any refresher rule. Combining them into a single “safeguarding complete” field makes it difficult to see which requirement is missing and which policy supplied the due date.
Always apply the current requirements of the relevant NGB. An NGB can specify sport-specific modules or procedures in addition to general Sport Ireland material.
Official and primary sources
- National Vetting Bureau — Frequently Asked Questions
- Sport Ireland — Safeguarding Training
- Sport Ireland — Safeguarding FAQs
Sources were accessed and checked on 12 August 2026.