IE
(LRC Revised)
Statutory Text (1 Articles)
Number 12 of 2004
PRIVATE SECURITY SERVICES ACT 2004
REVISED
Updated to 31 October 2025
Changes to legislation
as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.
This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the
Private Security Services Act 2004
. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under
the
Law Reform Commission Act 1975
(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation
of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the
Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Act 2025
(11/2025), enacted 28 October 2025, and all statutory instruments up to and including
the
European Union (Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuels in Maritime Transport) Regulations
2025
(S.I. No. 525 of 2025), made 3 November 2025, were considered in the preparation
of this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has
been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume
no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning
the
accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not
accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify
any
errors, omissions and comments by email to revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number
12
of
2004
PRIVATE SECURITY SERVICES ACT 2004
REVISED
Updated to 31 October 2025
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART 1
Preliminary and General
Section
1.
Short title and commencement.
2.
Interpretation.
3.
Exemptions.
4.
Laying of orders and regulations before Houses of Oireachtas.
5.
Expenses of Minister.
PART 2
Private Security Authority
6.
Private Security Authority.
7.
Membership.
8.
Functions.
9.
Strategic plans.
10.
Chief Executive.
11.
Staff.
12.
Superannuation.
13.
Investigations by Authority.
14.
Inspectors.
15.
Power of entry and inspection.
16.
Reports to Minister.
17.
Disclosure of interests.
18.
Non-disclosure of information.
19.
Grants to Authority.
20.
Membership, etc., of Dáil, Seanad or European Parliament.
PART 3
Licences to provide Security Services
21.
Application for licence.
22.
Grant or refusal of licence.
23.
Renewal of licence.
24.
Tax clearance.
25.
Documents to accompany certain applications.
26.
Refusal to renew, suspension, etc., of licence.
27.
Notification to applicant of refusal, etc.
27A.
Temporary licence.
28.
Variation of licensed security service.
29.
Identity cards.
30.
Identity badges.
31.
Issue of duplicate licence or identity card.
32.
Surrender of licence.
33.
Register of licensees.
34.
Provision of information by Garda Síochána.
35.
Production or display of licence.
36.
Notification of conviction of offence.
37.
Prohibition of unlicensed security service.
38.
Prohibition of employment of unlicensed person.
PART 4
Complaints against Licensees
39.
Investigation of complaints.
PART 5
Appeals against Decisions of Authority
40.
Private Security Appeal Board.
41.
Appeal to High Court on question of law.
PART 6
Security Services provided by Certain Persons from EU Member States
42.
Interpretation.
43.
Application of Act to relevant persons.
44.
Prior notification by relevant person of conviction or criminal proceedings.
45.
Prohibition of relevant person from providing security service.
46.
Relations with corresponding authorities.
47.
Effect of revocation or suspension of relevant person's licence or other authorisation.
PART 7
Miscellaneous
48.
Offences.
49.
Receipt of notification or notice.
50.
Taking effect of decision of Authority.
51.
Regulations.
52.
Transitional provision.
SCHEDULE 1
Private Security Authority
SCHEDULE 2
Private Security Appeal Board
PART 1
General
PART 2
Appeals
SCHEDULE 3
Modifications of Act in its application to Relevant Persons
Acts Referred to
Air Navigation and Transport Acts 1936 to 1998
Civil Service Commissioners Act 1956
1956, No. 46
Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 1996
Companies Act 1963
1963, No. 33
Companies Acts 1963 to 2003
Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993
1993, No. 8
European Parliament Elections Act 1997
1997, No. 2
Finance Act 2002
2002 No. 5
Harbours Act 1996
1996 No. 11
Public Offices Fees Act 1879
1879, c. 58
Registration of Business Names Act 1963
1963, No. 30
Taxes Consolidation Act 1997
1997, No. 39
Number
12
of
2004
PRIVATE SECURITY SERVICES ACT 2004
REVISED
Updated to 31 October 2025
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BODY, TO BE KNOWN AS THE PRIVATE SECURITY
AUTHORITY, OR IN THE IRISH LANGUAGE AN tÚDARÁS SLÁNDÁLA PRÍOBHÁIDÍ, TO CONTROL AND SUPERVISE INDIVIDUALS AND FIRMS PROVIDING PRIVATE SECURITY SERVICES
AND TO INVESTIGATE AND ADJUDICATE ON ANY COMPLAINTS AGAINST THEM; FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF A BODY, TO BE KNOWN AS THE PRIVATE SECURITY APPEAL BOARD, OR IN THE IRISH LANGUAGE
AN BORD ACHOMHAIRC UM SHLÁNDÁIL PHRÍOBHÁI~ DEACH, TO HEAR AND DETERMINE APPEALS AGAINST DECISIONS OF THAT AUTHORITY; AND FOR
RELATED MATTERS. [4
th May
, 2004]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART 1
Preliminary and General
Section
1.
Short title and commencement.
2.
Interpretation.
3.
Exemptions.
4.
Laying of orders and regulations before Houses of Oireachtas.
5.
Expenses of Minister.
PART 2
Private Security Authority
6.
Private Security Authority.
7.
Membership.
8.
Functions.
9.
Strategic plans.
10.
Chief Executive.
11.
Staff.
12.
Superannuation.
13.
Investigations by Authority.
14.
Inspectors.
15.
Power of entry and inspection.
16.
Reports to Minister.
17.
Disclosure of interests.
18.
Non-disclosure of information.
19.
Grants to Authority.
20.
Membership, etc., of Dáil, Seanad or European Parliament.
PART 3
Licences to provide Security Services
21.
Application for licence.
22.
Grant or refusal of licence.
23.
Renewal of licence.
24.
Tax clearance.
25.
Documents to accompany certain applications.
26.
Refusal to renew, suspension, etc., of licence.
27.
Notification to applicant of refusal, etc.
27A.
Temporary licence.
28.
Variation of licensed security service.
29.
Identity cards.
30.
Identity badges.
31.
Issue of duplicate licence or identity card.
32.
Surrender of licence.
33.
Register of licensees.
34.
Provision of information by Garda Síochána.
35.
Production or display of licence.
36.
Notification of conviction of offence.
37.
Prohibition of unlicensed security service.
38.
Prohibition of employment of unlicensed person.
PART 4
Complaints against Licensees
39.
Investigation of complaints.
PART 5
Appeals against Decisions of Authority
40.
Private Security Appeal Board.
41.
Appeal to High Court on question of law.
PART 6
Security Services provided by Certain Persons from EU Member States
42.
Interpretation.
43.
Application of Act to relevant persons.
44.
Prior notification by relevant person of conviction or criminal proceedings.
45.
Prohibition of relevant person from providing security service.
46.
Relations with corresponding authorities.
47.
Effect of revocation or suspension of relevant person's licence or other authorisation.
PART 7
Miscellaneous
48.
Offences.
49.
Receipt of notification or notice.
50.
Taking effect of decision of Authority.
51.
Regulations.
52.
Transitional provision.
SCHEDULE 1
Private Security Authority
SCHEDULE 2
Private Security Appeal Board
PART 1
General
PART 2
Appeals
SCHEDULE 3
Modifications of Act in its application to Relevant Persons
Number
12
of
2004