Working with An Garda Síochána
What are the main occupation types employed?
Gardaí throughout the Service are supported in their duties by a number of specialist units. These include:
- Air Support Unit
- Mounted Unit
- Water Unit
- Fingerprint Unit
- Photographic Unit
- Mapping Unit
- Ballistics Unit
- Technical Support Services
- Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation
- Criminal Assets Bureau
- Garda National Drugs Unit
- Garda National Immigration Bureau
- Garda National Economic Crime Bureau
- Garda Youth Diversion Bureau
There are also units to deal with armed terrorists and criminal gangs.
Membership of these units is open to all members of the Garda Service on completion of three years in mainstream operational police duties.
Career Opportunities for Civilians
Over 3,500 full-time Civilian Staff work in An Garda Síochána. These staff members are civil servants who provide important support services across a wide range of work areas.
Work areas administered by Civilian Personnel include:
- People and Development
- Communications
- Information and Communications Technology
- Finance/Procurement/Fleet Management and Estate Services
- Research and Analysis
- Legal Affairs
- Strategic Planning and Transformation
Civilian personnel wholly or largely staff several vital operational support areas such as the Garda Central Vetting Unit, the Garda Information Services Centre, and the Fixed Charge Processing Office.
Full details of civilian opportunities are available here.
What types of work contract are offered?
- Full time Garda recruits
- Part time (voluntary) Garda Reserve
- Civilian personnel
For more detailed information on the Garda Reserve, please view their full profile here.
What are the key attractions?
The Garda Síochána College provides for a continuum of education/training from Trainee Garda stage up to the development of Officers at the highest level. Continuing education/training up to Honours Degree level is provided at regular intervals as member’s progress within the Garda Service.
Members who are promoted to the rank of Sergeant and Inspector undergo an education/development course designed to provide them with the necessary skills of supervision, leadership and communication.
Members promoted to the rank of Superintendent and Chief Superintendent participate in a management education/development programme designed to provide them with the knowledge and skills to manage their respective areas of responsibility.
What locations do you operate from?
There are Garda Stations located all around the country many of which are manned on a twenty four hour basis. There are many more areas of deployment. These include National Units, for example:
- The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau Unit
- The Garda Economic Crime Bureau
- The Garda Water Unit
- The Air Support Unit.
Other areas of deployment include International missions, for example the U.N. missions to Cyprus.
What are the current employment trends?
All members commence employment at Garda rank, except for members who are promoted into An Garda Síochána from the Police Service of Northern Ireland or for those who are successful in the externally advertised position of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.
Describe any particular characteristics of your workforce?
Male-Female staff ratio In recent years the male-female staff ratio has changed. In 1997 when the strength of An Garda Síochána was 10,960 there were 949 female members which equated to 8.6% of the total organisation. Currently females equate to over 25% of the organisation. Age and Service Profile
|
Age Group |
Number |
% of Service |
|
24 & Under |
89 |
|
|
25 - 29 |
983 |
|
|
30 - 34 |
3170 |
|
|
35 - 39 |
3123 |
|
|
40 - 44 |
2335 |
|
|
45 - 49 |
1235 |
|
|
50 and Over |
1908 |
|
Years Service |
Number |
% of Service |
|
Up to 4 |
297 |
|
|
5 - 9 |
4132 |
|
|
10 - 14 |
2555 |
|
|
15 - 19 |
2335 |
|
|
20 - 24 |
1547 |
12% |
|
25 - 29 |
559 |
4% |
|
30+ |
1418 |
11% |