Older recruits to Gardaí will f ind f itness test tough
Middle-aged candidates face big challenge
MIDDLE-AGED garda candidates will struggle with the gruelling fitness test, current members reckon, given that almost a third of recruits are already failing.
With the age limit to join increasing from 35 to 50, WhatsApp memes have been doing the rounds among gardaí of Garda-logoed zimmer frames, right, and pictures taken from television show Dad’s Army captioned ‘Templemore 2024’.
Sources this weekend said ‘it will be interesting to see the calibre’ of those joining. ‘They will be exposed to front-line operational policing, which is tough going. You already see younger members not lasting the pace.’
Another source pointed out that many gardaí retire at 50, after serving 30 years.
‘We now have a situation where some of those coming in will be similar age to those retiring.’
According to figures released earlier this year, 162 potential recruits of the 520 who took the garda fitness test in 2022 failed.
The pass rate for female candidates was lower than men with 80 of 171 women failing the test.
The decision was announced to increase the age by Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris at the latest Garda College graduation ceremony for 126 new gardaí in Templemore.
In February, the Labour Court determined the age limit was unlawful and amounted to discrimination on the grounds of age. An appeal has been levelled against that decision.
During evidence to the court in that case, Commissioner Drew Harris claimed the age limit of 35 was ‘essential’ due to the need for stamina.
Meanwhile, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned another 11 gardaí quit in the last two weeks as the recruitment and retention crisis continues.
This brings resignations this year to over 120, already surpassing last year’s record number.
The age limit announcement came days after a €2.3bn allocation for An Garda Síochána in Budget 2024 which includes an aspirational recruitment figure of 800 to 1,000 new Gardaí and increase in the training allowance from €184 to €305.
In response, a spokesman from the Garda Representative Association (GRA) representing rank-and-file officers welcomed the announcement, but added a note of caution: ‘It must be stated that in Budget 2021 we were promised 800 new recruits in 2022 and just under 300 came through Templemore and we were then promised 1,000 recruits for 2023 but we will see just over 600 which barely covers the losses through retirements and resignations.
‘So we must give this a guarded welcome and hope that we can achieve these extra numbers in the interest of the safety and wellbeing of our members and of the public, but also that they continue to address issues within the force to make a career in AGS a safer and more attractive one to potential recruits.’