Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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603. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Number 464 of 8 May 2019, if he has engaged or consulted with the Garda Commissioner in respect of extending or abolishing the upper age limit for persons wishing to make an application to become a full-time serving trainee Garda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35565/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 which provide that the age at which a person may apply to join An Garda Síochána as a full time member is not more than 35 years.

On 18 December 2018, the Government endorsed the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and agreed to accept all of its 157 key recommendations, including those related to Garda workforce planning and modernisation.  The report is now being implemented in accordance with the targets and timelines set out in "A Policing Service for the Future", the four year implementation plan for the recommendations of the Commission.

Among the issues highlighted in the report was that An Garda Síochána should reflect the diversity of Irish society and should therefore develop recruitment strategies to achieve a more diverse intake.  In this regard, it recommended that age limits for recruitment should be removed.

I can inform the Deputy that as set out in my previous response to the same question of 8 May 2019, the question of the appropriate age for recruitment to An Garda Síochána will be considered as part of my Department's broader review of entry to An Garda Síochána.