Gardaí age limit to be raised from 35 to 50

The age limit for joining An Garda Síochána will be raised from 35 to 50.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said the entry requirement age is being changed to give as many people the opportunity to apply as possible and the garda fitness test will be updated.

Minister McEntee said she will bring proposals to increase the application age limit to cabinet for approval shortly.

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.

The fitness test has also been cited as one of the reasons for unsuccessful applications, with Fianna Fáil TD Jim O’Callaghan claiming that it was “too demanding.”

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 other members.

There will be no change to the retirement age of 60, which means a limited pension after ten years service.

In February, the Labour Court ruled that the age limit of 35 was “discriminatory.”

McEntee added that the retirement age, which is currently set at 60, should be higher.

Speaking on Morning Ireland, she said “I want to change it and I’m in discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure. We haven’t reached a conclusion but that is where I hope to get.”

“Everybody will still have to do fitness test,” she added.

“Our population is growing, we need to see that garda workforce grows with it,” she said.

“Nothing is off the table to support the gardaí and the work they are doing. It’s my job to support them in every way that we can.”