Garda Vetting & Safeguarding 1 Requirements: 16 and 17 years olds are required to have Garda Vetting and Safeguarding in place if they are in a role that is considered as Relevant Work (paid or unpaid as a volunteer), centres are legally required to have Vetting clearance for them.
There is a separate form for Under 18s to do Garda Vetting, this is provided as an option when the payment is made on H.S.I. website.
https://www.aire.ie/index.php/courses/garda-vetting
The Safeguarding booking page on H.S.I. website also asks if the applicant is under 18.
https://www.horsesportireland.ie/governance/basic-awareness-courses/
To clarify: The above refers 16 and 17 years olds, anyone under the age of 16 is not legally required to be vetted.
Riding Centre owners are breaking the law if they have 16- and 17-year-old people working with children without the above documents.