Age limit for joining gardaí to rise to 50

Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said she will bring proposals to increase the application age limit for government approval

An Garda Síochána (Irish police) are expected to accept new recruits up to the age of 50 years old.

The Irish Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris believe the entry requirement age "should be changed in advance of the next garda recruitment campaign to give as many people as possible the opportunity to apply".

Currently, the maximum age to join the force is 35.

Ms McEntee is set to bring proposals to increase the application age limit to the Irish government for approval shortly.

The garda fitness test will also be adapted in line with the current age-related graduated system.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ reports that the Irish government has committed to bring staff resources up to 15,000, and after a group of 126 graduate at a ceremony at the garda college at Templemore on Friday, there will be a total of 14,032 gardaí.

The new age limit will be announced at the ceremony, the Irish Department of Justice said.

Budget 2024 made funding available for the recruitment of up to 1,000 new members, but last year’s target of 800 was not reached.

'Limit was discriminatory'

The fitness test is currently age and gender graded with different levels for males and females and for those aged up to 25 and those up to 35.

There is to be another graded fitness standard for those up to 50, but they will still qualify as a junior garda and be expected to do the same work as everyone else.

This will include 12-hour night shifts and post duty in inclement weather.

There has been no change to the retirement age of 60, which means a limited pension after 10 years of service.

Ms McEntee has held discussions with the Irish Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe on the matter, her department said.

Earlier this year, the Labour Court ruled that the age limit of 35 was discriminatory.

RTÉ reports that the court made the determination after ordering An Garda Síochána to pay €25,400 (£21,942) in compensation - or €12,700 (£10,966) each - to unsuccessful job applicants, Ronald Boyle and Brian Fitzpatrick, after finding they were discriminated against on age grounds.

The entry age limit of 35 has been in place since 2004, when it was increased from 26.