New drive for more gardaí sees recruit age limit rise to 50

Mon, 15 Jan, 2024 - 00:05

Cormac O’Keeffe, Security Correspondent

A new Garda recruitment drive begins on Monday in a bid to get the target of 15,000 sworn members — initially set for 2021 — back on track.

The campaign states that it wants and needs applicants “from all backgrounds and communities”, adding that policing Ireland’s modern and diverse society is presenting “challenges”.

Garda numbers have fallen in the last three years, from 14,750 in March 2020 to a low of 13,880 last September.

Covid restrictions during 2020 and 2021 are estimated to have prevented 1,100 students from entering Templemore College and joining the force.

Garda numbers fell below 14,000 last April and, despite the restart of recruitment, the overall strength has failed to get over that mark since.

Efforts to boost numbers have also been frustrated by ongoing retirements — around 300 up to November last year — and 164 resignations for all of 2023, compared to 108 resignations in 2022.

Launching the new campaign, Garda HQ reminded potential applicants that the age limit for a trainee has been increased, from 35 to 50.

In a statement, it said that “in order to provide a steady pipeline” of Garda trainees over the coming years, it was intended to run the recruitment campaigns annually.

“Commissioner Harris has commented previously on the need to not only meet the Government target of 15,000 gardaí, but increase Garda numbers even further due to population growth and changing nature of crime,” it said.

Garda HQ said there were currently 13,998 gardaí, as of 31 December last. That is up from 13,882 at the end of November.

Commissioner Harris said: "Being a garda is a hugely rewarding but at times tough job. As a garda, you will make a real difference in people’s lives.

"You will effect positive change in communities. You will keep people safe. You will support victims. You will uphold the law.

“And, through this valued and exciting work, you will see first-hand the impact your actions have on the ground. This is why being a garda is a job worth doing.”

He said gardaí “keep communities and people safe” through, what he said, was its “unique approach to policing by consent”.

“It is this approach coupled with a host of career opportunities that has attracted people to become gardaí. We have even had those who were police officers in other jurisdictions return to retrain as a garda.”

He said policing a modern and diverse society presented challenges but also presented opportunities to grow.

"This is why An Garda Síochána recognises it too needs to change to meet the needs and demands of the people of Ireland.

Already, we have one of the highest proportion rates of female officers in Europe, but we know there is more to do to meet our aim of being fully representative of the people we serve. That is why we are hoping to attract more candidates from diverse backgrounds as part of this campaign. We want, and need, people from all backgrounds and communities to be gardaí.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said: “As a government, we allocated the highest ever budget of €2.3bn to An Garda Síochána for 2024. That included funding for between 800 and 1,000 new gardaí, and I hope, and indeed expect, that there will be a strong response to this campaign.”

She said the last Garda recruitment campaign which closed in April 2023 received approximately 5,000 applications.

“Both the Government and Garda Commissioner have said they are committed to reflecting the increasing diversity in Irish Society by ensuring that all communities see themselves reflected in An Garda Síochána,” the minister said.

“The Garda Commissioner has also put a strong focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds to join An Garda Síochána through this campaign.

Noting recent changes made to the eligibility requirements and increased training allowance, Ms McEntee added: “We have significantly increased the training allowance for trainee gardaí, to €305 per week.

"Given that, and the decision to increase the maximum age of recruitment from 35 to 50, I believe we are opening up policing as a career option to a new cohort of people who will bring a range of different life and career experiences to the table."