Kilkenny councillor calls for garda age limit to be increased

A local councillor has called for the age limit for entering An Gardaí Síochana to be raised to 50.

At present there is an upper age limit of 35 despite a sharp decline in garda numbers.

At a meeting of Kilkenny’s Joint Policing Committee, Cllr David Fitzgerald said that people aged between 35 and 50 should be allowed to apply to An Garda Síochana.

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“It is high time that the Minister did that. There are a lot of very fit, able and streetwise people available to us and I would like to see it done,” he said.

Chief Supt Anthony Pettit said that it is being considered. “There are a lot of people with various experience and qualifications that would be of great use to us.”