Age requirement needed to join Garda Síochána moved to 50

The Irish police, known as An Garda Síochána, will now allow people up to 50 years old to join as new recruits.

The Irish Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, and Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, think that the age requirement for entry should be adjusted before the next recruitment drive for gardaí. They want to give as many people as they can the chance to apply.

Right now, the oldest you can be to join the force is 35.

Ms McEntee is planning to present proposals to the Irish government soon, suggesting that they raise the age limit for applying.

The garda fitness test will be changed to match the current system that takes into account people’s age.

The Irish government plans to increase staff resources to 15,000. After 126 graduates at a ceremony at the garda college on Friday, there will be a total of 14,032 gardaí.

The Irish Department of Justice said they will announce the new age limit at the ceremony.

In 2024, there was money set aside to hire up to 1,000 new members, but only 800 were actually hired.

‘The limit was unfair and treated some people unfairly. ‘

The fitness test is graded in a way that takes into account a person’s age and gender. Different standards are applied to males and females, as well as to those who are aged up to 25 and those up to 35.

A new fitness test will be introduced for individuals under 50 years old. However, they will still be considered junior police officers and be required to perform the same duties as others.

This means that you will have to work at night for 12 hours and be on duty even if the weather is bad.

The retirement age of 60 has not been changed, so people can only get a limited pension after working for 10 years.

Ms McEntee talked to the Irish Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe about something, according to her department.

Earlier this year, a court called the Labour Court decided that it was unfair to have an age limit of 35 years.

RTÉ says that the court decided that An Garda Síochána must give €25,400 in money to pay for the unfair treatment of Ronald Boyle and Brian Fitzpatrick. They were not given jobs because of their age. Each of them will receive €12,700.

Since 2004, there has been a rule that only people who are under 35 years old can enter. Before that, the rule was that only people who were under 26 years old could enter.