Joining the Gardaí

mikemac

Apologies if these questions have been asked before. The careers sections of www.garda.ie doesn't seem to be working.

Am realy interested in joining the guards.

I got a 2:1 degree in IT in Galway-Mayo IT. Do degree graduates start on more money?
Also, I have very poor eyesight. Been wearing glasses since I was 12. Wear contact lenses now and looking at getting laser surgery next year. Would this rule me out?

A friend told me the PSNI pay more money and have better opportunites for advancement. Spent 4 months in Belfast this year and loved it so would have no objections to working up north. Any comments on this

Thanks

nesf

The Gardaí requirements on eyesight seem pretty strict. Better than +/- 1.5 without corrective lenses or something, I don't remember exactly.

But maybe someone who's gone through the application could confirm/refute this.

FGR

I've gone through the laser correction procedure - All they ask of you is to declare it during your medical.

The fact that you had surgery would not go against you during the recruitment process.

You will start on more money and although I'm not sure of the amount..it won't happen until you've complete training. As a result of this you'll be earning no more than trainee pay.

With all that said the PSNI has many opportunities for people. You recieve full pay from day one and training does not last for two years as it does in the Gardaí.

For more information check out the 'Garda Aptitude Test' topic.

mikemac

Applied for the PSNI on-line today. For anyone interested, you have to apply before September 30th.

SuzyS1972

No laser surgery won't rule you out - I know a recruit who had it done in order to pass the medical and they knew he was having it done
Good Luck

mikemac

Read the garda aptitude thread today. Quite a read. Full of useful info and fair play to anyone who was succesful.

Does anyone know when the next garda recruitment drive will be advertised to the public? Judging by the amount of people who haven't started training, I'd imagine it could be even a year away. Open to correction

For anyone who failed, did any think of joining the PSNI? Seems a good opportuity. Starting salary seems good and plently of oppurtunities.

I'd be interested in hearing if anyone here has applied. You could start in March 06 if you applied this month.

Btw if a mod wants to merge this thread with garda aptitude thread, I'd have no objections. I started this thread without reading the other

nesf

Nah, I'm going to leave them seperate. The garda thread is already enormous

Resurrection

Don't join the Guardai. Our policed state is bad enough.

nesf

Resurrection wrote:

Don't join the Guardai. Our policed state is bad enough.

Try to be constructive and elabourate on your views. Or at least, make it clear what you are trying to say.

Gillo

ForegoneReality wrote:

With all that said the PSNI has many opportunities for people. You recieve full pay from day one and training does not last for two years as it does in the Gardaí.

Chances are you'll be better trained down south.

DublinWriter

ForegoneReality wrote:

With all that said the PSNI has many opportunities for people. You recieve full pay from day one and training does not last for two years as it does in the Gardaí.

It's a bit unfair to say that training lasts two years, you do six months in Templemore and then spend 18 months as a probationer out in a station.

The PSNI are falling overthemselves trying to recruit Catholics as they can only recruit on a one for one basis (for every Catholic in, they have to recruit a Prodestant).

I'm not totally sure about this, but I think part of the Patton agreement allows for the transfers of members of the PNSI to an Garda and vice-versa.

If I were you, I'd really think long and hard about joining the PSNI. The situation up North isn't exactly normalised yet and they still remain an armed police force. Could you really see yourself in a riot line with Molotov cocktails being thrown at you?

FGR

22 weeks for phase I training in Templemore

22 weeks for phase 2 training in Station as Student/Observer

12 weeks for phase 3 training in Templemore followed then by attestation.

You are then a probationer Garda on proper pay for a further 36 weeks before returning to Templemore for another five weeks to conclude your training, followed by a Passing out ceremony.

97 weeks to be precise. It may not be exactly 104 though it is indeed close enough. You are a student until Phase IV; on which you are then a Probationer Garda.

Just to clear up some things there. I wouldn't question the quality of the training within those two years..particularly Phase 2 for it's benefits through observing the job; but I would not hesitate in explaining to a person the differences between the training of the Gardai and many other police forces around the world.

Quantico trains Federal Agents over the same time period..;)

mikemac

I have thought about it. It's not a decision I'm taking lightly.

In theory, as a Catholic it might be easier to get accepted in the PSNI due to 50:50. But I think this only applies if you're from Nothern Ireland.
It's hard to say. Looking at threads on the UK police forum and nobody seems to know there either

oceallachain

The PSNI 50:50 thingy applies to all nationalities, including those folks from the south. As much as the PSNI has to offer (full whack pay from day one, shorter training period, probably better training in terms of firearms and self-defence) I would join the Gardaí again if I had the choice again. the PSNI is one tough job... not that the Gardaí don't have it tough as well.

Of course I can only imagine that it takes a hell of lot longer to finally get accepted into the Gardaí... it took me 2 years from the day i applied. Surely the PSNI doesn't take that long.

Best of luck anyway whatever you do.