Some of the gardai promoted to the ranks of sergeant or inspector this year may be prevented from taking up their posts and will have to retake their promotion examinations again next year, it has emerged.
The problem has arisen because of a fall in the number of officers taking early retirement. For reasons which are not entirely clear, it seems that far fewer officers of sergeant and inspector rank have taken the option of early retirement this year.
It is believed that in some cases officers nearing retirement age were uncertain whether recent pay rises would be taken into account in their pensions if they retired this year.
Whatever the cause, there appears to be a shortfall in promotion places. Of the 140 gardai who passed the sergeants' promotion exams earlier this year, it is possible that as many as 20 will not gain places and have to retake the exams next year.
It is believed that between five and eight of the 37 officers who passed their inspectors' exams may also lose out.
Staff representatives from the two associations representing officers have been in negotiations this week with Garda management over the issue.