In a bid to address recruitment challenges, the Gardaí have significantly relaxed the fitness requirements for those seeking to join the force.
Under the revised rules, prospective recruits will no longer need to complete sit-ups or push-ups as part of the entrance exam for Garda College.
Additionally, the once-strict bleep test—an endurance assessment that involves running back and forth between two points 20 meters apart—has been eased.
Moreover, the previous system, which set different fitness standards based on gender and age, has now been replaced by a single, unified standard for all candidates.
This move comes as the Government continues its efforts to increase the Garda workforce to 15,000 members, a target it has long committed to achieving. However, despite these efforts, the force has struggled to meet recruitment goals in recent years.
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