A professor of physiology described the change as “downward momentum.”
The fitness test as part of the application process for An Garda Síochána is set to receive an ease in standards, as the force looks to encourage more people to join its ranks.
The Physical Competency Test (PCT) is a mandatory part of the application process for all new recruits however, a review of it was commissioned last summer and a an updated PCT will now come into effect.
As part of the new test, sit-ups and push-ups will be removed and the expected target for the bleep test has been dropped.
The new PCT features two parts, the bleep test and an obstacle course, with both needing to be completed in eight minutes and four seconds or less.
Testing will also be standardised instead of having different versions for men and women and older and younger candidates.
The changes come following increased numbers of failures in the past few years, with 162 out of 520 candidates failing last year.
Former Garda Detective Inspector Pat Marry told RTÉ that he is in favour of the new changes.
He said: “I’m thinking about people who are, let’s say, 50 years of age or under. Some of them may be married, they’ll have children, they’ll have life experience.
“Their life experience will pay into some of the jobs they may be doing.
“They may be able to bring something far greater than the ordinary policeman who is maybe 19 or 20 years of age and hasn’t worked in the wider world before joining.”
However, Dr Niall Moyna, Professor of Clinical Exercise Physiology at DCU, disagrees.
Speaking on Today with Claire Byrne he said: “I think there’s a minimum standard that’s required to function as a garda.
“Just think about a garda. The physicality involved in being a garda, that they work ten-hour shifts over four days or 12-hour shifts. They can be called upon at any time.
“If you start this downward momentum, where are we going to be in ten years time?”
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