Mountaineering Ireland is committed to safeguarding children. In line with our Safeguarding Policies and Procedures (2015) our staff and volunteers, seek to create a safe environment for young people to grow and develop.

Our Club’s undertake a written Risk Assessment document that indicates the areas of potential risk of harm, the likelihood of the risk occurring, and gives the required policy, guidance or process documents require to alleviate these risks.

The list of risks identified are contained in the following categories:

Club and Coaching Practices; Complaints & Discipline; Reporting Procedures; Use of Facilities; Recruitment; Communications; and General Risk of Harm.

Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, the Children First: National Guidance, and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice and the Children (NI) Order 1995 and subsequent Guidance. In addition to our Risk Assessment, there are further procedures that support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of our activities.

The Mandated/Relevant Person for Mountaineering Ireland is Murrough McDonagh, our CEO and Catherine Hibbitt, National Childrens Officer/ Designated Liaison Officer.

We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process. Mountaineering Ireland is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our activities.

This Child Safeguarding Statement was updated in February 2023.

Murrough McDonagh
Mandated Person

Catherine Hibbitt
National Childrens Officer/ Designated Liaison Officer

Mountaineering Ireland has the following procedures in place as part of our Safeguarding Policies:

Procedures for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct by staff or volunteers against a child availing of our activities.
Procedures for the safe recruitment of staff and volunteers to work with children in our activities.
Procedures for access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.
Procedure for reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Statutory Authorities.

To contact Catherine Hibbitt, National Childrens Officer/ Designated Liaison Officer

Email safeguarding@mountaineering.ie or call on 087 6057925

Safeguarding and Garda Vetting Process

*Please note: All documents need to be posted to us in hard copy*

Mountaineering Ireland follows safe recruitment procedures in the case of all volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults. To view the Mountaineering Ireland Safeguarding Policy, please click here. You can also view the Summary Sheet for the updated Safeguarding Policy here.

The process ensure that all volunteers provide referees to vouch for their character and credentials, and undergo a background check.

1. Complete the Mountaineering Ireland Volunteer/Provider Application Form and return to Mountaineering Ireland at the relevant address below

2. Complete a code of conduct form for Adults/Leaders/Volunteers or Parents/Guardians or Providers

3 Complete the Garda Vetting process or those living in Northern Ireland, the Access NI process - please see Access NI Guidance Notes below.

4. Complete the Garda Vetting ID Validation form.

Garda Vetting

In the Republic of Ireland background checks are carried out by the National Vetting Bureau of which Mountaineering Ireland is an authorised organisation.

Mountaineering Ireland administers all Garda Vetting applications on behalf of Mountaineering Ireland volunteers who are resident in the Republic of Ireland.

The Garda Vetting forms and process were updated in April 2016 so please disregard any previous application forms you may have and use the links below instead.

Step 1: Garda Vetting ID Validation - please complete the Garda Vetting ID Validation Form using the accompanying guidelines.

Step 2: Once we have received your validated ID and completed form, we will invite you to go through the online Garda vetting system via email. Please ensure that your email is written clearly on the validation form.

Please return the completed form to the below address.

Completion of this process permits An Garda Síochána and Access NI to disclose the applicant's personal data regarding convictions and / or prosecutions pending or completed, successful or not in the state or elsewhere to the Authorised Signatory.

Once the process has been completed, a letter will be sent from Mountaineering Ireland to the individual applicant confirming whether the application has been approved or rejected. Please be aware that the Garda Vetting and Access NI process may take a couple of weeks to complete.

Access NI

In Northern Ireland Access NI background checks are carried out by NI Sports Forum on behalf of Mountaineering Ireland.

Mountaineering Ireland administers all Access NI applications on behalf of Mountaineering Ireland volunteers who are resident in Northern Ireland.

Step1: Please click on the 'Access NI Guidance notes.pdf' link below and download a copy of this form.

Step 2: Follow the steps in the form and submit a signed copy with 10 digit code along with copies of your ID documents by email to ricky@mountaineering.ie once your ID has been validated by an MI volunteer or staff member.

Step 3: Mountaineering Ireland will submit your application to NI Sports Forum.

Step 4: Mountaineering Ireland will contact you once your Access NI application has been complete.

Related Docs

Access NI Guidance notes

Youth Volunteer Role Description

Complete a New & First Time Provider Application Form and send to:

Mountaineering Ireland,

National Sports Campus,

Blanchardstown,

Dublin 15, Ireland,

with a non-refundable fee of €125 for each course for which approval is required, to a maximum of €250.

To renew providership or add an additional providership please click Here

The Vetting Process

1. Complete a Volunteer Application Form and a Code of Conduct for Providers

2. Based on where you live, please complete the Mountaineering Ireland garda vetting / Access NI process as below:

2a). Garda Vetting - Please complete the Garda Vetting ID Validation Form using the accompanying Guidance.

2b). Access NI - Please complete the Access NI Link & Guidance

3. Return Addresses for 1 and 2a

Garda Vetting Designated Liaison Person

Mountaineering Ireland,

Sport HQ,

National Sports Campus,

Blanchardstown,

Dublin 15

Return address for 2b:

Ricky@mountaineering.ie

Access NI Designated Liaison Person

Mountaineering Ireland

Tollymore National Outdoor Centre

32 Hilltown Road

Bryansford

Newcastle

BT33 0PZ