Dick Spring
Ceist:296 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of serving members of the Garda Síochána who do not meet the height regulations. [25573/98]
Written Answers - Garda Regulations.
The height requirement for applicants for the Garda Síochána is determined by regulation.
The current regulations (the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations, 1988) stipulate that male applicants must not be less than five feet nine inches in height and female applicants must not be less than five feet five inches in height. In 1972 the height requirement for male applicants was amended from five feet nine to five feet eight inches but it was restored to five feet nine inches in 1981.
There is provision for persons with certain special technical qualifications to be exempted from the general height requirement when being recruited to specialised areas of An Garda Síochána such as the Garda Band and telecommunications section.
The Garda authorities have informed me that it is not possible to give an exact figure for the number of serving members who do not meet the current general height requirement for applicants as records are not maintained in a manner which would facilitate the provision of the information sought by the Deputy.