Garda College Takes On New Recruits
For the first time in five years, the Garda college in Templemore is preparing to welcome a new wave of recruits.
Over 24,000 people applied for the course as part of this recruitment drive but only 100 of those will take their places next month.
Learning how to use a baton or drive a patrol car at high speed might be the first things that enter your mind when you think of what's in store for the new Garda recruits.
But the BA in Applied Policing is aimed at teaching the core principles of the force and how to police communities effectively and safely.
Chief Superintendent Ann Marie McMahon says the 32-week programme adopts a student led and problem based approach to learning.
Away from the classroom, the campus has a sports complex made up of full size pitches.
There's a handball alley, gym and swimming pool too to name but a few of the amenties.
There's a lot of work to be done but Superintendent Pat McCabe says it's important for the recruits to have their downtime too.
Because of the ban on recruitment in the public sector, this is the first time since 2009 that the college has welcomed new recruits.
There's no word on when the next drive will be but Chief Superintendent McMahon hopes it won't be long.