GRA welcomes increased garda age limit

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) is welcoming the decision to increase the upper age for entry to the force to 35.

However, it says older entrants will probably have different requirements and may require different training.

The GRA says such entrants will mostly be married and may not be able to survive on a student garda's wages.

GRA President Dermot O'Donnell also wants the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to clarify the issue of pensions.

The Government agreed to reform the entry requirements to the Gardaí along the lines proposed by Fine Gael Justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe.

It decided against raising the age limit in line with that of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, where it is currently set at 52.