What are the educational requirements to join An Garda Síochána?

What are the requirements to join the Gardai?

Applicants must be 18 years of age but not yet 35 years of age at midnight on the 16th March 2022.

Is it hard to join Garda?

Unfortunately, it is not easy to become a member of An Garda Síochána. To do this, you must prove yourself by navigating through a rigorous selection process. This process will not be made any easier by the vast numbers of people who will be applying for the recruitment campaign.

What height do you have to be to be a Garda?

The minister also announced the introduction of new testing procedures for anyone looking to become a Garda. Even young people may no longer look up to young people as they have in the past. Until now, men joining the force had to be at least 5' 9″ and for women, it was 5' 5″.

Do you need higher level Irish to be a guard?

Under the new rules applicants to join the force will no longer have to hold a qualification in Irish or English. Instead, they will have to be able to prove they are competent in two languages, at least one of which must be English or Irish.

Careers in An Garda Síochána

Do you need your Leaving Cert to be a Garda?

An Garda Síochána: Minimum entry requirements is Leaving Certificate with specified minimum grades in Mathematics and in two languages one of which must be either English or Irish.

What is the maximum age to join the Gardaí?

Persons wishing to join the Garda Reserve must be between 18 and 60 years when they commence the prescribed training.

What is the Garda beep test?

Gardaí said entry to the force required recruits to pass both the fitness test and the physical competence tests. The fitness tests contains a progressive shuttle run (or bleep test), a sit-up test with a one-minute time limit, and a press-up test that is untimed.

Can Gardai have beards?

In an email to officers in the Roads Policing Division in Dublin from a senior cop, gardai are reminded of the requirement in the dress code, which is that beards are neatly trimmed and should be between 0.5cm and 2cm in bulk.

What hours do Gardai work?

A Garda therefore, works 227 days (1,816 hours) (of 8hrs shifts or equivalent) per annum. Public Holidays when they fall to be so rostered are regarded as working days save that they command a special allowance. Subject to certain conditions, annual leave may be availed of in half days.

How much do Garda get paid?

The Garda Pay Scale has been subject to significant changes in recent years. It has seen an increase in pay for members by 3% in three years. The first point of the Garda pay scale has increased from €30,296 in January 2019 to €32,921 in September 2022.

How long is Garda training?

This Training Programme is delivered over 104 weeks leading to a B.A. in Applied Policing. The initial period of 34 weeks including two weeks annual leave takes place at The Garda College. Subsequent training takes place predominantly in selected Garda Divisions.

How much is Garda College?

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice estimated that it cost €9,200 per recruit to be trained up to the point where they are stationed and have full powers. Of that €1,200 goes towards the new uniform. So with 100 new recruits just started – that's a cost of €920,000.

Do Garda reserves get paid?

The Garda Reserve consists of voluntary unpaid members, drawn from the community to assist the existing Service.

How long is the Garda recruitment process?

It can typically take between 12-18 months from initial application to being called for training at the Garda College, Templemore. Completing the application process guarantees an applicant of nothing. All it does is get you onto a waiting list.

Can a Garda have a tattoo?

Gardaí must not have visible face or neck tattoos, men's hair is to be short above the ear, women's hair can be collar length or tied up and tucked away under the hat, never over the eyebrows or the face, with no visible buns or ponytails and definitely "no combination of unnatural colours".

Can a Garda smoke in uniform?

According to the rules, there are to be no runners or jeans, even among non-uniform gardaí. Shirts must be tucked in, top buttons must be closed and sleeves should not be rolled up. Gardaí will also not be allowed to smoke, chew gum, or have their hands in their pockets.

Do Garda detectives carry guns?

Armed Gardaí

The Gardaí is primarily an unarmed force; however, detectives and certain units such as the regional Armed Support Units (ASU) and the national Emergency Response Unit (ERU) are commissioned to carry firearms and do so.

Can Gardai wear glasses?

General medical requirements are as follows:

Eyesight - good levels of vision (minimum distance vision of 6/18 on both eyes that can be corrected to 6/9 and 6/12 with glasses or contact lenses if necessary).

Are the guards recruiting?

An Garda Síochána have advised that the next Garda recruitment campaign will commence in early 2022.

Can a Garda have a second job?

Under the Garda code, members of An Garda Síochána are forbidden from taking other employment in a wide range of jobs, including security.

Is being a Garda a good job?

A Competitive Salary

Members of An Garda Síochána are a vital part of Irish society and their pay reflects it, particularly once they being to climb the ladder. Officers are often rewarded for their years of service with a salary increase based on how long they've been with the force, and the availability of overtime.

Can you join the Garda with a criminal record?

In general, you do not have to disclose a spent conviction when you are looking for employment. However, you have to disclose any spent convictions if you are applying to work for certain bodies, such as: The Garda Síochána.