Some people in Fermanagh are facing a delay of up to three months when they come to start a new job due to the back-log of applications to vet people who work with children or vulnerable people.

The matter was brought to the attention of Fermanagh District Council by the DUP's Paul Robinson who explained that when Access NI had taken responsibility for providing this information earlier this year, they had guaranteed it would be given in six to eight weeks.

However, it was now more like a 10-12 weeks wait, and Mr Robinson said he personally knew of one girl who has been waiting for 14 weeks: "She has a job waiting for her in a nursing home but she can't start until she gets these checks done. It is just a disgraceful situation."

The Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, Thomas O'Reilly believed there were an 'overwhelming' number of people who needed to be vetted, and that this was having a knock-on effect on others who are only entering the system.

The call for expediency on this matter was further endorsed by Assembly Member Tom Elliott. He explained: "I am aware of many care agencies, play groups, crèches, schools and voluntary groups affected because of this lengthy delay in receiving clearance from Access NI. Elderly patients cannot be discharged from hospitals because prospective employees are not permitted to start work and, thus patients having to endure longer hospital stays because care packages cannot be put in place.

"Many employers are stating that job applicants are so frustrated that they are declaring that they are no longer interested in the post and look elsewhere, and the spiral starts again in the search for new applicants.

"It is simply not acceptable that a person or organisation should have to wait eight weeks before they know they have a job or not," he said.