Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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90. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if there are any exceptions to the upper age limit for a person wanting to apply to An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6690/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Recruitment competitions for full time members of An Garda Síochána are open to all who meet the eligibility criteria set out in the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013.

Regulation 4 (a) specifies 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.

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

(1) the cost of training and the need for recruits to serve for a sufficient period of time as full members of the service to recoup this cost,

(2) the operational requirements of the service in terms of having an age profile appropriate to the physical demands placed on members in the course of their duty.

Regulation 11 allows the Commissioner, with the consent of the Minister, to appoint and enrol a person as a member of An Garda Síochána without regard to the requirements of the 2013 Regulations. However, this exception is rarely used and is limited to where the Commissioner is satisfied that a person has special aptitudes, knowledge, skills or technical qualifications which justify their appointment and enrolment as a member of An Garda Síochána. The person must also be of good character, in good health and of sound constitution and be suited physically and mentally to perform the duties to which they will be assigned.