becoming a garda?

2moro2moro

My partner is interested in becoming a garda but he never sat a leaving cert unfortunately. I have been told that you need to prove proficiency in 2 languages so I am just wondering if he would have to sit a whole leaving cert for this or is there a fetac course he could take? Is there any other routes? any info appreciated!

aido112

2moro2moro wrote:

My partner is interested in becoming a garda but he never sat a leaving cert unfortunately. I have been told that you need to prove proficiency in 2 languages so I am just wondering if he would have to sit a whole leaving cert for this or is there a fetac course he could take? Is there any other routes? any info appreciated!

He must have 5 pass marks in leaving cert AND a proven proficiency in 2 lanuages. Garda.ie has more info on it if u want to look it up. Best of luck to him

thekopend

From Garda Website:

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
(A) (i) Have obtained an Irish Leaving Certificate with a grade D3 minimum in five subjects at ordinary level, or
(ii) have a Level 5 Certificate (Major award) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or
(iii) have a qualification that, in the opinion of the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is of a standard in terms of both level and volume of learning that is not lower than the standard of the qualification specified at (i) and (ii) above

AND

(B) Must have a proven proficiency in two languages, one of which must be Irish or English. Such competency may be proven by achieving the relevant grades or qualifications specified in (A) above, or for English or Irish through such assessments as set out by the Public Appointments Service.


The Public Appointments Service (PAS) will verify the validity of qualifications other than the Irish Leaving Certificate with Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Applicants should not contact QQI directly.


There is something there about having a level 5 certificate eg a trade but you still have to prove proficient in 2 languages. Not sure how it works but if you contact public appointments services they will tell you.

Quadrivium

Just to let you know, a trade qualification is a level 6 qualification, it is 1 level higher than the leaving cert.

iane87

1. Whats the salary for a Garda?
2. Do you get paid whilst attending Garda college?
3. Do you get paid more if you have a Degree/Masters?
4. What are the increments for pay rises?

I've recently passed stage 2 and wondering if its actually worth the change in career...

jwm85

iane87 wrote: »

1. Whats the salary for a Garda?
2. Do you get paid whilst attending Garda college?
3. Do you get paid more if you have a Degree/Masters?
4. What are the increments for pay rises?

I've recently passed stage 2 and wondering if its actually worth the change in career...

Take a look at Garda.ie
All the info is there

iane87

"Garda Trainees will receive an allowance of €184 per week for the 32 weeks leading to attestation.
On appointment to the Service, a Probationer Garda will be paid €23,171 rising by increments to a maximum of €45,793 per annum after 19 years (October 2013 rates). Members of the Service may also qualify for other allowances."

€23,171 ?!?!?!?!?! How is anyone supposed to live on that? I knew the pay wasn't great but that's slave labour, for the unsocial hours they work and the sh1t they have to put up with!!!

I don't think I'll be taking up the guards, seriously I'd be better off working in the local chipper.

I'm currently doing a research masters and I get €20K tax free funding. Research Officers jobs here start at €40K for 1st year graduates.

iane87

iane87 wrote: »

€23,171 ?!?!?!?!?! How is anyone supposed to live on that? I knew the pay wasn't great but that's slave labour, for the unsocial hours they work and the sh1t they have to put up with!!!

Well, people can make their living earning less than that. Been there myself, also working unsocial hours for good few years. Not saying it's ideal by any means, but you can make it, especially if you enjoy the work you do. And actually with the allowances, it's slightly more that 23k.

iane87 wrote: »

I don't think I'll be taking up the guards, seriously I'd be better off working in the local chipper.

Thanks for sharing. Good luck with whatever career you choose.

iane87 wrote: »

I'm currently doing a research masters and I get €20K tax free funding. Research Officers jobs here start at €40K for 1st year graduates.

Then, if you enjoy what you're doing and you're happy with the money you make, stick to it and make the best out of it. Good luck!

jwm85

€23,171 is basic wage.
This doesn't include allowances and overtime

Bloodwing

jwm85 wrote: »

€23,171 is basic wage.
This doesn't include allowances and overtime

Don't expect to see any OT. Depending on what district you end up in you could easily work a roster without seeing an hour, especially with the Haddington road agreement.

BettyElms

jwm85 wrote: »

€23,171 is basic wage.
This doesn't include allowances and overtime

jwm85 is correct. €23,171 is basic pay but it's also gross. Minus deductions like USC, income tax, garda medical aid etc the figure is smaller again. Realistically even with allowances added back on, you'd be looking at take home pay of around €20k for a new recruit.

Overtime is very scarce at the minute depending on where you're stationed and there are plenty of other members waiting to snap up any that's going, so it's not something you can depend on at all.

Without doubt the salary is going to be a big decision for some people, especially those with family or mortgage commitments, for others I'm sure it's a job they would do for any pay.

jwm85

I'm in quite a secure 9-5 job at the moment with decent pay. I'm aware that I will be taking a big pay cut if i make it in. But also this is the starting wage and it will rise gradually as the years go on. I guess I'm looking at the bigger picture.
Also I'm looking for a bit of a challenge.

TallGlass

I'll give it a bash for 23k, if its woffle then I know where the door is.

What was the starting wage in 2007 and pre 2007?

D Trent

TallGlass wrote: »

I'll give it a bash for 23k, if its woffle then I know where the door is.

What was the starting wage in 2007 and pre 2007?

Around the €27,000 mark

TallGlass

D Trent wrote: »

Around the €27,000 mark

That's quite a drop in starting wage. I'm sure that Garda on that pay scale have been hit also via taxes but might be offset by the pay scale rises.

23K before tax is awful, I would have been on that doing 30hours a week in my local supermarket after I exhausted the pay scales in the shop!

I think 27K is an acceptable entry point to be honest. Why was this adjusted, considering there were no new recruits going in around that time and the offset of 4K wouldn't save the state that much money? But could turn off some good candidates! Maybe hire an extra body for every 6 with 23K.

thekopend

TallGlass wrote: »

That's quite a drop in starting wage. I'm sure that Garda on that pay scale have been hit also via taxes but might be offset by the pay scale rises.

23K before tax is awful, I would have been on that doing 30hours a week in my local supermarket after I exhausted the pay scales in the shop!

I think 27K is an acceptable entry point to be honest. Why was this adjusted, considering there were no new recruits going in around that time and the offset of 4K wouldn't save the state that much money? But could turn off some good candidates! Maybe hire an extra body for every 6 with 23K.

There was an extra 4k rent allowance on top of that 27k too thats gone. You could say it has been cut by 8k altogether!!

MagicMarker

jwm85 wrote: »

I'm in quite a secure 9-5 job at the moment with decent pay. I'm aware that I will be taking a big pay cut if i make it in. But also this is the starting wage and it will rise gradually as the years go on. I guess I'm looking at the bigger picture.
Also I'm looking for a bit of a challenge.

Rising to a maximum of €45,793 over 19 years?

That is beyond a joke.

iane87

I've passed stage 2 but the pay has certainly turned me off proceeding any further. I really liked the thought of becoming a Garda, but not at this salary.
You put your life on the line, work unsocial hours, not to mention the abuse they receive from the public in the line of work.
and for what?
peanuts!!

unattendedbag

It's not a job anyone does for the money. You will never be rich but as long as you have common sense then you will never be poor either.

You may find it difficult to pay a mortgage and support a wife and 3 kids over the first few years (in this case you may be entitled to medical card and family income support), but the wages are the same as any entry level job. It rises over time and the allowances and benefits are an added cushion.

Quadrivium

unattendedbag wrote: »

It's not a job anyone does for the money. You will never be rich but as long as you have common sense then you will never be poor either.

You may find it difficult to pay a mortgage and support a wife and 3 kids over the first few years (in this case you may be entitled to medical card and family income support), but the wages are the same as any entry level job. It rises over time and the allowances and benefits are an added cushion.

Sure if you don't work for money why don't you join the Garda reserve where you can work for nothing at all? That attitude "we don't do it for the money" is naive at best.

unattendedbag

Quadrivium wrote: »

Sure if you don't work for money why don't you join the Garda reserve where you can work for nothing at all? That attitude "we don't do it for the money" is naive at best.

It's common knowledge that the wages aren't great even when joining back in the good times. everyone has their own reasons for joining. Some dream of it since they've been young, some as an opportunity that just came up and some for a varied and exciting career. Nobody however thinks of it as a handy few euro.

Collielover

unattendedbag wrote: »

It's common knowledge that the wages aren't great even when joining back in the good times. everyone has their own reasons for joining. Some dream of it since they've been young, some as an opportunity that just came up and some for a varied and exciting career. Nobody however thinks of it as a handy few euro.

This says it all.

Quadrivium

unattendedbag wrote: »

It's common knowledge that the wages aren't great even when joining back in the good times. everyone has their own reasons for joining. Some dream of it since they've been young, some as an opportunity that just came up and some for a varied and exciting career. Nobody however thinks of it as a handy few euro.

Although it was never rock star wages, the previous contracts and increments allowed for a middle class lifestyle. The current contracts are on par with very low skilled minimum wage jobs which is totally unfair and wrong. No amount of glass half full thinking will change that reality.

The same easy targeting has happened to the defence forces where new entrants are on deplorable wages.

Money is not everything but it's pretty close to oxygen on the got to have it scale.

thekopend

Ya all this 'its not about the money' wont be long getting old if ye do get the job. I know no one is joining for the money but when ye get in and realise what ye have to see and do, the leased ye will deserve/expect/want is a comfortable living. The reality is most will be struggling and have poor standard of living for a few years. If i get in it will be a good few years before im on the same money im on now. Its scandalous really what they are getting away with, all es jobs should be well paid!