Garda Recruitment 2023/2024

anyone else in my age bracket (40) considering going again for the new recruitment campaign?

I waited nearly 4 years for a reply only to be rejected on a small mistake on my form B, granted it was during covid when everything shut down but not sure I can put myself through the process of waiting so long again. I applied in 2018 and only received a rejection in 2022 after passing everything bar vetting for a simple error on my form.

What's the current wait period from start to finish these days, it used to be around 9-12 months from initial application

Hey Marty, Could you tell me what this mistake was? Fecking dreading the thought of anymore delays with my current application!

Isn't this thread a great resource for would be recruits. I recall I applied for the guards first in 1978 when I was 18 but failed the maths in the aptitude test. I was always useless at maths. Next recruiting campaign was not until 1980 so I applied again. By then they had changed the rules so if anybody had passed their leaving certificate - which I had - english, Irish, maths and two other subjects minium you did not have to do the aptitude test. So I applied again.

I failed my first medical due to some skin infection and was not called back for a second medical for about a year - then a lot of more waiting and waiting. Did not get into Templemore until January 26th 1983. So I was really trying to get in for 5 years. What a great feeling it was though to finally have made it - my lifelong dream job. Retired as a sergeant in 2013.

It would have been great to have the internet and talk to other applicants back then. Instead I was all in the dark about what was happening.

So hang in there - be patient and follow your dream.

Hi there. Would anyone have any idea on what the maths is like? Is it worth doing one of the on- line courses?

Absolutely not!!!

I'm 45 and applying, I was in the reserves for 10 years and loved every minute of it, I had to take step back due to family issues.

When I was a reserve there was a moratorium on recruitment, when it opened up again I was a few months too old!

So this is my first opportunity to go for the full time in the upper age limit.

I also have a full time job which I have been in for the last 24 years, a wife and two kids but it's something I have wanted for a long time

I made a mistake with a FETAC qualification I have, I put it down as a Level 9 when it was a level 7. After that I failed to disclose a 'Dealing with AGS' from when I was a kid (17), my name was taken as being involved in an incident and recorded on pulse, it was minor incident and I wasn't even really involved but because I didn't declare it I was deemed as an untrustworthy candidate. I went through the appeal process but the outcome from the Commissioner remained the same.

Anyone yet from batch 4 get word on when they could be starting?

In relation to the eye test, how strict is it? I am -2.25 in both eyes corrected to perfect vision with glasses. I have no intention of getting laser treatment. Would -2.25 unaided fail me if I got to the medical?

It gives specifics in the recruitment booklet of what level you need to be at for your eyesight

The age bracket and the trainee allowance have been significantly increased to attract new numbers. Given the high likelihood that older candidates may have commitments such as families and mortgages, commonsense would suggest that these situations would have been foreseen and that personal circumstances would be considered when posting those who successfully complete training.

Like any other job, candidates sign up to the terms and conditions, including work location.

On the other hand, would it make sense to try widen the net and increase numbers, just to make it unfeasible to those same numbers by sending them to areas beyond a reasonable commuting distance from where they're raising a family or paying a mortgage? Hopefully not!

They will take that into consideration for sure and always have done. You can also put in a request to change station once you get allocated, the priority always went to those who had 'reasonable need' to do so I.E mortgage, family etc.

The AGS working rule (or used to be) is that you're stationed at least 10km from where you live, designed to protect you on your days off so that you don't run into someone you arrested the week before.

Well Marty.

I forgot to disclose a minor incident on my form b that occurred in my 20s. It was brought up at my Sargent meeting and super meeting and they both insured me that it won’t affect me at all.

I hope they are correct. Does it depend on the seriousness of the incident?

Where's this form? Is it separate to the initial online application?

I'm the same, I can't imagine that they have opened the age limit to 50 and expect if the person got it to have to move across the country with a family and that of course you sign up for it to be that way maybe but I'm sure they will place you close to your home. How else would they attract people to the force,they want people with life experiences and most of not all will be taking a financial hit to join the guards so they will have to try and get people stationed close to their home.

are you asking about the Form B?

the past recruitment campaigns were handled by publicjobs.ie

you would do an online aptitude followed by a monitored aptitude in their office.

Then you would be called for an interview in the same office (different date) and before you had your interview you would meet a member of the vetting team who would go through your Form B and get a declaration off you.

Then the three person panel interview which was always fun

What way is it being done these days?