Garda entry age limit rises to 35

THE maximum age of entry into the gardaí is being raised from 26 to 35 as part of the drive to recruit 3,300 new gardaí.

However, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said there are no plans to change the retirement age from 57.

Mr McDowell announced the move at a graduation ceremony in the Garda College, Templemore yesterday, where 170 gardaí received their certificates.

The Government plans to recruit 3,300 new gardaí over the next three years.

Mr McDowell said the new entry age will apply to all future recruitment drives.

“It will extend the opportunity to many more people of a career in the Garda Siochána, and will increase the pool of talent available,” he said. Mr McDowell said he also wants recruitment of more gardaí from different ethnic backgrounds.

Mr McDowell said that the enlarged force would be deployed in areas of greatest need. Increased numbers, he said, would also improve other priority areas, such as traffic patrols.

As part of keeping pace with new crime challenges, he said he was studying proposals for a mandatory minimum sentence for serious firearms offences.

“Change is necessary to confront the growing gun culture,” Mr McDowell added.

The Commissioner’s Medal for the student with the highest academic marks went to Garda Michael Gerard Ryan from Roscrea, who will be stationed in Ballymun.

Garda Valerie O’Keefe from Co Clare, won the Gary Sheehan Memorial Medal for best all-round student. She will be stationed in Irishtown, Dublin.

The Templemore Town Council Medal for social science studies went to Garda Emma Daly from Clara, Co Offaly.