Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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183. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to waive the age limit of 35 years old for recruitment to An Garda Síochána for reserve members of An Garda Síochána who entered the reserve before the age of 35. [45013/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The maximum recruitment age at which candidates may apply to join the Garda Síochána as a full time member is set by regulation at not more than 35 years and the question of appealing that upper age limit does not arise. The current maximum age applies without discrimination to everyone, including members of the Garda Reserve.

This upper age limit of 35 was set having regard to equality legislation and also took into account the following criteria:

- The cost of training.

- The need for recruits to serve for a sufficient period of time as full members of the service to recoup this cost.

- The operational requirements of the service in terms of having an age profile appropriate to the physical demands placed on full time members in the course of their duty.