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| How do I join An Garda Síochána? |
How do I join An Garda Síochána?
Applications for the position of Garda Trainee are made by way of an online application process which is managed by the Public Appointments Service. To receive notification of forthcoming Garda Trainee recruitment campaigns as they arise, you must register as a member of http://www.publicjobs.ie Once you have completed the registration process, log in and click on My Job Alerts, select Security/Emergency Services and then click on Garda. You will be notified by e-mail when a recruitment campaign is beginning. At that stage you will be invited to make an application on http://www.publicjobs.ieOnce you have made your application, you will be invited to book a time and date to attend for Stage One assessment. The number of applicants in each group will be limited and on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. However those who do not manage to gain entry to a particular group will be treated as a priority applicant in subsequent assessment sessions. Applicants are permitted to undergo elements of the selection process only once within any six month period.
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| What is the recruitment process? |
What is the recruitment process?
The selection process comprises 3 stages:-
Stage 1 comprises 3 written tests:-
Test 1: Verbal evaluation
Test 2: Analytical Reasoning
Test 3: Job Simulation Exercise
Stage 2 includes elements such as a written communication exercise and an interview.
Stage 3 includes a medical examination and may also include a physical ability test.
Stages 1 and 2 are conducted by the Public Appointments Service. Stage 3 includes an interview with the local Sergeant and Superintendent. Following this applicants may be alled for a medical and physical test.
None of the above stages in part or whole constitute an offer of employment.
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| What are the educational requirements? |
What are the educational requirements?
Candidates must have obtained in the Leaving Certificate:
- A grade not lower than B3 at Foundation Level or D3 at another level in Mathematics, and
- A qualifying grade in 2 languages, 1 of which must be English or Irish, as follows:
English: a grade not lower that D3 at Ordinary Level
Irish: a grade not lower than C3 at Foundation Level or D3 at another level
Other language: a grade not lower than D3 at Ordinary Level, and
- A grade not lower than D3 at Ordinary Level, in not less than 2 other subjects
Or
The Merit Grade in the Applied Leaving Certificate
Or
Like Grades in another examination, which, in the opinion of the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform, is not of a lower standard than the above.
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| Is there a height requirement? |
Is there a height requirement?
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| Is there an age limit? |
Is there an age limit?
Candidates to join the Service must be between 18 and 35 years of age.
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| What does the training involve? |
What does the training involve?
Basic training is divided into 5 phases and lasts 2 years. Initially, students spend 22 weeks at the Garda College in Templemore followed by a period of 24 weeks spent at selected stations under the direct supervision of tutorial staff. After further training at the College, students become members of the Service and are attached to stations. While they are now empowered to enforce legislation, they remain under probation for a further 2 year period.
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| What subjects are taught at the Garda College? |
What subjects are taught at the Garda College?
Throughout basic training, much emphasis is placed on the integration of theory and practice. Subjects include Law, Social Science, Theory of Policing, Communications, the Irish Language, and Physical Training. Apart from the student basic training, the Garda College also provides a wide range of in-service training activities for all ranks.
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| What are the physical requirements? |
What are the physical requirements?
Successful candidates at stages one and two of the selection process will also be required to undergo an exacting medical exam by a Registered Medical Practitioner nominated by the Garda Commissioner. Such candidates must be of good mental and bodily health and free from any defect or abnormality likely to interfere with the efficient performance of their duties.
Any of the following examples of medical conditions may be a bar to passing the medical exam:
- Defective Vision: the vision standard required of a Garda trainee is not less than 6/18, 6/18 (correctable to 6/9, 6/12) unaided by glasses or contact lenses, with normal colour vision.
- Varicose veins
- Being overweight
- Albumenuria
- Dental Caries
- Defective Hearing
- Hypertension
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| Can a police officer from another country transfer in? |
Can a police officer from another country transfer in?
No, there is no internal transfer process. You must go through the normal recruitment process.
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| Can a citizen from any country join? |
Can a citizen from any country join?
To join, applicants must:-
- Be a national of a European Union Member State, or
- Be a national of an EEA State or the Swiss Confederation, or
- Be a refugee under the Refugee Act, 1996, or
- Have a period of 1 year's continuous residence in the State immediately before 1 September, 2005 and, during the 8 years immediately preceding that period, have had a total residence in the State amounting to 4 years. (Periods of illegal residence or residence as an asylum seeker do not count in the qualifying 5 year period).
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| How do members get into a specialist area? |
How do members get into a specialist area?
Ordinarily new members of the Service must spend at least 3 years on normal uniformed policing duties. After that, they are free to apply for any vacancies which may arise in specialist areas. Each section will have its own unique selection procedures.
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| What is it like to be a Garda? |
What is it like to be a Garda?
To see interviews from serving members and profiles of different career paths within the organisation, please see our page on www.careersportal.ie
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| How can I find out more? |
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