Career FAQs

The age range stated is 18-50. If I am 50 can I apply?

The exact date range that applicants need to be born are specified for candidates as follows:

 Be 18 years of age but not yet 50 years of age at midnight on the closing date of the competition.

I do not have two languages or Irish. Do I still need to have Irish? Is Irish an absolute requirement?

A proven proficiency in either Irish or English is required. There is no longer a requirement to have a second language.

Successful applicants are required to study and pass Irish as part of a module in the Garda College.

I have fluent Irish, is there a specific recruitment stream for me?

Iarrthóirí atá líofa don tSraith Ghaeilg- Applicants with proficiency in the Irish Language Stream. 

The Garda Commissioner and An Garda Síochána are fully committed to fulfilling their obligations under the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. The Garda Commissioner is pleased to announce that individuals who have proficiency in the Irish language and who fulfil all other eligibility criteria set out may indicate their interest in applying for consideration to a specialist Irish language stream on the application form.    

Candidates who indicate their interest in this stream who are invited through to the final stages of the selection process will be required to undergo a competency based interview in Irish prior to being considered for such a position. They must achieve the required level in the Irish language at this interview i.e. demonstrate a minimum Level B2 on the Europass self-assessment framework.    

Candidates appointed from this stream must be able to provide a full range of services in Irish. If successful, candidates will be allocated to Gaeltacht areas for a period of time as and when determined by the Garda Commissioner.               

Do I need a degree to apply?

There is no requirement to have a degree prior to entering the police service as a trainee, however if you are in the final year of completing a degree when offered a place in the Garda College we can be flexible with your start date to enable you to complete your final year.

What are the educational requirements?

By the closing date of the competition applicants must:

(a)       have obtained an Irish Leaving Certificate with a grade D3 or O6 minimum in five subjects at Ordinary Level*, or

(b)      hold a minimum of a Level 5 Major award (120 Credits) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or

(c)       hold a recognised qualification (at Level 5 or greater), deemed comparable to the above in terms of both level and volume of learning as determined by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)          

AND

(d)       be proficient in either or both of the following:

i) the Irish language

ii) the English language

* Subjects taken at Foundation Level Leaving Certificate are not considered equivalent for entry to this competition. In certain cases, a Pass in the Applied Leaving Certificate may be deemed equivalent to an Ordinary Leaving Certificate.                                        

The Public Appointments Service may verify the validity of qualifications other than the Leaving Certificate with Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Candidates may refer to the National Academic Recognition Information Centre which offers advice on the academic recognition of foreign qualifications in Ireland.      

Can a citizen from any country join?  

To join applicants must:  

(a)       be a national of a European Union Member State; or  

(b)       be a national of a European Economic Area State, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or the Swiss Confederation; or           

(c)       Under the International Protection Act, 2015 and in compliance with the Admissions and Appointments Regulations 2013, as amended, be (i) a refugee or a family member of such a person in relation to whom a refugee declaration is in force and continues to be in force for the entire duration of the Garda Recruit selection and admissions process or (ii) a person granted subsidiary protection or a family member of such a person in relation to whom a subsidiary protection declaration is in force and continues to be in force for the entire duration of the Garda Recruit selection and admissions process; or  

(d)       by the closing date of the advertisement of this competition, have had a period of one year’s continuous residence in the State, and during the eight years immediately preceding that period, have had a total residence in the State amounting to four years. 

The onus is on candidates to provide documentary evidence that they continue to meet the eligibility requirements throughout the process and to update the Public Appointments Service and An Garda Síochána of any changes that might impact their eligibility.   

I am a serving Garda Reserve; how should I apply? 

Reserve Gardaí give their time on a voluntary basis to support the work of An Garda Síochána within the community. They have undergone training in many of the skills required to perform their duty as valued members of community policing or regular units delivering proactive, high visibility policing which contributes to keeping people safe. In recognition of this, a separate stream is being held for serving Reserve Gardaí who, by the closing date have:

(i)            completed their probationary period;

(ii)           performed their role to a satisfactory standard;

(iii)          served a minimum of 120 hours per year for two of the last four claim years;

(iv)         fulfil the Conditions for Entry as set out in the Notes for Candidates at PublicJobs.ie.

Eligible applicants should apply in the usual way and indicate on the application form that they wish to apply for the Serving Garda Reserve Stream. In order to be considered for this stream, when completing your application form applicants must include:              

1)               Reserve Garda Registration Number;     

2)               Division in which you are currently serving. 

Applicants must be a Reserve Garda at the time of appointment as a Garda Trainee to continue to be eligible under the Garda Reserve Stream. Applicants who are no longer a member of the Reserve Garda will not be eligible to be offered an appointment from this Stream.         

Further information regarding a Garda Reserve Verification Form, will issue directly to you by email shortly after the closing date of the competition. Applicants will be required to complete the form, and have it signed by their Divisional Officer and forwarded to the Appointments Office in Garda Headquarters within a specified timeframe. 

Failure to return the Garda Reserve Verification Form in the timeframe specified will result in your application for the Serving Garda Reserve Member Stream not receiving any further consideration.

What is the pay?

The pay of all public servants is determined by the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform in consultation with relevant parties. The rates of pay and allowances are indicative and are therefore subject to change.

Garda Trainees will receive an allowance of €305 per week for the 33 weeks leading to attestation. Accommodation and food is provided by An Garda Síochána while resident in the Garda College.

What are the physical requirements?

Applicants are expected to be aerobically fit in order to safely undergo training and to subsequently carry out the duties assigned to them as a Garda.

All applicants will undergo a Physical Competence Test as part of the application process and their subsequent training.

Applicants must pass all elements of the test and there is strictly no deviation from the format of the test.

Successful applicants must maintain their fitness during the Foundation Training Programme, and Physical Competence Tests will be undertaken during the Programme. Failure to maintain the required levels of fitness during training will be a breach of contract and constitute a termination of contract.

A demonstration video and detailed information regarding the Physical Competence Test are available here.