The age limit for joining An Garda Síochana has increased from thirty-five to fifty under changes announced by the Justice Minister and Garda Commissioner today.
The entry age limit of thirty-five has been in place since 2004, when it was increased from twenty-six.
The measure is part of a series of moves, included in the €2.3 billion budget allocated to the Gardaí, to boost the numbers within the force.
Minister Helen McEntee says, when it comes to recruitment and retention, no change is off the table.
The retirement age for members of the force currently remains at sixty-years-old, but Minister McEntee says she's in discussions with Minister Paschal Donohue to look into increasing that too.
"People are living longer. And that's why I am engaging with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohue, to increase the overall age, so those discussion are ongoing, they're still being worked on at the moment.
But I do think that we should increase the retirement age. I think it should be increased for all Gardaí, whatever rank you're at, whether it's senior or otherwise".
"It takes about thirty-three weeks for a member, when they're actually in the college, and then they're out and they go through a probationary period.
So the reason that the age of fifty was chosen. it's really important that, when a person goes through training they receive a BA in Policing at the end of it, you need to allow the time for them then at the end of it to commit to the job and to be involved in the work that they're doing".
Other measures being put in place to increase the Garda presence include investments in recruitment, funding for overtime and Gardaí health and wellbeing.
