The closing date for receipt of entries to the Garda Siochana is this Thursday. There are 500 places on offer and the recruitment campaign, which got underway in October, is expected to attract upwards of 6,000 applicants.

For those who reach interview stage, competency in six different areas are assessed here, according to chief superintendent Kevin Ludlow, director of training at the Garda Training College in Templemore in Co Tipperary. The areas of planning and preparation, community orientation, achieving high standards, decision making, persuading others and taking charge are all judged.

"These areas all represent the type of policing intervention that gardai make in society," he says. "The age for joining is 22," he says. "If you look at the skills and abilities to become a Garda, life experience does help in areas such as communication, understanding team work, having the ability to resolve conflict. The more life experience people have, the more honed and developed those skills are. The training provided brings out those skills in people".

According to chief superintendent Ludlow, some of the qualities that interviewers will be looking for at interview stage include an understanding of team-work, an ability to communicate with people, a facility for problem-solving and a potential for resolving conflict. Those who have those skills are likely to enjoy a career in the Garda, Siochana, says Ludlow.

The number of people who leave the force is "minute", he says, adding "we have quite a high level of satisfaction within the organisation". He himself joined in 1973. "I think there's great job satisfaction. You are dealing with people. There's great variety. Within the organisation you can change your career and yet retain the stability that you have, and you can serve in many parts of the State."

Those who are aged between 18 and 26 are eligible to apply to the Garda Siochana. Men must be 175.26 cms (5 feet 9 inches) tall, and women, 165.10 cms (5 feet 5 inches). Everyone must be in good mental and physical health. There is also a written assessment, which is conducted by the Civil Service Commission in early December. Those who are selected are eligible for appointment as members of the force only on satisfactory completion of 62 weeks of training.

There are over 11,000 gardai, from the commissioner down through the various ranks to that of superintendent, inspector, sergeant and garda. The Garda Headquarters is in the Pheonix Park. There are 702 Garda stations throughout the country. The force has one helicopter, one fixed wing aircraft and 1,298 cars. Means of transportation also include almost 200 motorcycles and just under 300 vans and personnel carriers. As well as Garda HQ, there are a number of specialist services, such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Garda National Drugs Unit, all of which are in Dublin.

Earlier this year, the Minister for Justice, Mr John O'Donoghue, announced the building of major new educational and residential facilities at the Templemore. The new block will have three lecture theatres, one of which will accommodate 200 students, with the other two accommodating 80 students each. The residential block will have 84 single bedrooms as well as 8 en suite bedrooms and a recreation facility.

Other specialist sections include the mapping section, the fingerprint section, the document section, the international liaison office, the water unit, the National Drug Unit, the National Traffic Bureau, the Criminal Assets Bureau and the mounted unit. There's also the community relations section, the air support unit, the national bureau of criminal investigation and the special detective unit.

The dramatic changes in the country in the last 20 years has meant that the force has changed also, but, says Ludlow, the force "has managed to maintain its core values and its community approach".

At college, training comprises a total of three years, including study and supervised practical work at selected Garda stations. "The subject areas have been broadened considerably." The student probation training programme at Templemore is an integrated third-level diploma course under the National Council for Education Awards. The college also has a BA in police management for superintendent rank upwards. "We would see further developments" and the diploma course will change "perhaps to degree level further down the road", according to Ludlow.

Pay: On appointment to the Garda the annual salary is £13,326 rising by increments to £23,947. Rent and other allowances are also payable. Website: The Garda website is at http://www.irlgov.ie or simply www.garda.ie