Sligo, Ireland – An Garda Síochána is set to host a crucial recruitment open day at the Glasshouse Hotel in Sligo on Monday, October 6, from 5 PM to 9 PM, as the national police service continues its aggressive drive to boost numbers and diversity within its ranks. The event comes as the current national recruitment competition approaches its deadline of Thursday, October 9.
The current campaign, the second this year, follows a successful February competition that saw over 6,700 applications. Gardaí have actively worked to broaden the applicant pool by implementing key changes to eligibility criteria, including the removal of height restrictions, the easing of rules concerning corrective lenses, and, most notably, raising the maximum entry age to 50.
Inspector Gerry Curley highlighted the impact of these changes, noting a significant increase in older applicants. “Traditionally people were 18-23… now it is regular that you see people in their 30s or even 40s,” Insp. Curley stated, confirming that nearly 42% of applicants in the last competition were aged 30 and over.
Career Opportunities and Benefits:
- Training and Pay: Successful candidates will receive an allowance of €354 per week for the 36 weeks of training at the Garda College in Templemore.
- Accredited Degree: Upon successful completion, recruits graduate with a guaranteed full-time, pensionable public service job and a Level 7 Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Policing, accredited by the University of Limerick.
- Specialised Roles: Insp. Curley emphasized the changing and highly specialized nature of modern policing, noting that a recruit’s personal interests can lead to diverse career paths in units such as the Air Support Unit, Dog Unit, Water Unit, Fraud, Drugs, and even the Press Office or Continuous Professional Development (CPD) as a tutor.
The Sligo open day is a key event for potential applicants, offering a chance to meet current Garda personnel, including students, newly qualified probationary Gardaí, and members from various specialist sections. Insp. Curley strongly encouraged anyone considering a career to attend and have their questions answered before the application window closes on October 9th. The current strength of An Garda Síochána stands at approximately 14,400, with a target to significantly increase this number in the coming years.
