Only 18 of 100 Garda recruits are women

Fewer than one in five Garda recruits who have started their training at the Garda College in Templemore are women, following a recruitment policy which attracted 25,000 applications.

The 100 students officially welcomed to the force yesterday by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and acting Garda commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan are the first to undergo training at Templemore since 2009, when recruitment was mothballed as a result of the recession.

Ms Fitzgerald did not commit to a timeline for the next wave of recruits to start at Templemore but said in a speech at the college: “It is my intention that there will be seamless ongoing recruitment as we have committed, and I will be making further announcements before the end of the year.”

Of the 100 students, 18 are female and 82 male, while 24 former Garda reservists are included.

Asked if 18% was a disappointingly low number, Ms Fitzgerald said: “I’m always looking to get a critical mass of women into the force. I’m delighted that we have that number here today and I’ve no doubt that the percentage of women, which has increased hugely, in An Garda Síochána will continue to rise.”

Ms O’Sullivan said that, following a “very, very rigorous” recruitment process, almost 25,000 applicants were processed by the Public Appointments Service before being reduced to 100.

“There was a very rigorous process and [of] the first 100, 18% of those were female. That doesn’t take away from the fact that over 25% of the force are female. So I think that a lot of progress has been made in that regard and we look forward to continuing [that] progress.”

One of those female recruits is Rachael Killeen from Clare, a former Montessori teacher who also spent time working in Africa and whose father was a garda, as were other family members.

“I’ve always respected them and always wanted to be in the force,” she told media at the Garda College, describing the start of the training course as a “fantastic” day.

As for the recruitment process, she said: “It was very hard. There was really stiff competition, especially when you got down to smaller numbers.”

She and the 99 others are undertaking a BA in applied policing which, according to a Garda spokesperson, was developed following a “comprehensive review” of Garda training in 2009.

The course comprises three phases of learning, the equivalent of three academic years, and is accredited by the University of Limerick.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what they have planned for us,” Ms Killeen said. “It’s very much learning by doing. It’s a lot more practical than the old system.”

Sean White from Tallaght said he felt “very privileged” to have come through the recruitment process. “I expect it to be challenging.”

Meanwhile, former off-licence manager David Hickey from Shankill in Dublin said the interview process was “very tough”, as were the physical challenges, but he was pleased to have been selected.

“The facilities are great and we’re encouraged to take part in as many extra-curricular activities as possible. The people in the town [Templemore] are great.”

Addressing the recruits, Ms Fitzgerald said she is committed to reforming, where necessary, the organisation, structures, practices, and systems of An Garda Síochána to deliver “the best possible policing” services for the country.

“In some cases, this may involve substantial changes. In some cases this may involve confronting deficiencies and challenging bad practices.”