The PSA Ireland
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersTipperary Town, Ireland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The PSA Ireland does
The Private Security Authority (PSA Ireland) is a statutory regulatory body established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, operating under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. It is the sole statutory authority responsible for licensing and regulating private security contractors and employees across 14-15 sectors in Ireland, including door supervision, security guarding, event security, electronic security installation (CCTV, intruder alarms, access control), locksmith services, private investigation, cash-in-transit, and safe supply. The PSA currently oversees a register of 1,383 contractor companies and 43,346 licensed employees, and processes approximately 14,800 licence applications annually (as of 2019). It is headquartered in Tipperary Town with a nationwide network of regional inspectors conducting both announced and unannounced compliance inspections.
The PSA's core product offering consists of contractor licensing services (€1,000 administration fee plus a turnover-based component of €250 to €25,000, on a 2-year cycle), employee licensing services (€30 to €220 per licence, on a 3-year cycle), appeal administration (€125 contractor / €25 employee), and replacement document issuance (€20). Distribution is via two online self-service portals (psaonlineapplication.com and renewals.psa.gov.ie), physical mail, phone/email support, in-person service at the Tipperary head office, and the regional inspector network. Marketing and stakeholder engagement occur through LinkedIn, Facebook, the PSA Watch newsletter, annual reports, and the public searchable registers of licensed contractors and employees.
The PSA's business model is a hybrid of regulatory licence fees and direct government appropriation; revenue is not publicly disclosed. The Authority is governed by a Board appointed by the Minister, with stakeholder representation from An Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, private security employers and employees, and staff. Current Chief Executive is John Phelan, appointed September 2024. Enforcement powers include document seizure, prosecution of unlicensed operators, and a sanctions regime spanning warnings and cautions through licence revocation.
The PSA Ireland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The PSA Ireland
- Legal name
- The Private Security Authority
- Website
- https://psa-gov.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The PSA Ireland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Security Industry Regulation
- NAICS
- Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)
- SIC
- Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Security Sector Governance & Police Reform (BPADAGAI)
Keywords
Where The PSA Ireland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tipperary Town
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The PSA Ireland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Contractor Licensing Fees: Contractor licence fees consist of an administration fee (€1,000) plus a turnover-based fee ranging from €250 to €25,000 depending on annual turnover. New entrants without prior turnover only pay the €1,000 admin fee. Licences are issued for 2-year periods.
- Employee Licensing Fees: Employee licence fees range from €30 (temporary event licence) to €220 (combined door supervisor and security guard licence). Individual sector licences range from €90 to €150. Licences are typically issued for 3-year periods.
- Appeal Fees: Appeal fees of €125 for contractor licensing appeals and €25 for employee licensing appeals.
- Replacement Document Fees: Replacement licence or ID card issuance fee of €20 per document.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | New Entrant Contractors |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Contractor Turnover-Based Fees |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Combined Door Supervisor and Security Guard Licence |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Door Supervisor Licence |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Security Guard, Enforcement Guard, Private Investigator, Monitoring licences |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Cash-in-Transit Employee Licence |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Temporary Licence Event |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Contractor Licensing Appeals |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Employee Licensing Appeals |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Replacement Documents |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The PSA Ireland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Private Security Authority (PSA) is Ireland's statutory regulatory body that licenses and regulates private security contractors and employees across 14–15 sectors including security guarding, door supervision, alarm/CCTV installation, locksmith services, private investigation, cash-in-transit, and safe supply. It issues licences to businesses and individuals, maintains public registers, conducts compliance inspections, and enforces the Private Security Services Acts through prosecution powers.
Product overview
The Private Security Authority (PSA) Ireland is a statutory regulatory body under the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Rather than a technology product company, it provides a suite of licensing, compliance, and enforcement services for the private security industry in Ireland. The core offering consists of contractor and employee licensing across 14+ security sectors, supported by online application and renewal portals, public register searches for verifying licence status, and an appeals process administered through the Private Security Appeal Board. The PSA also conducts enforcement activities through regional inspectors, issues identity badges to licensed employees, and maintains standards through approved auditing bodies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Contractor Licensing Services Statutory licensing service for private security contractor businesses (companies, partnerships, sole traders) operating in Ireland across sectors including Door Supervisors, Security Equipment Installers, Locksmiths, Private Investigators, Enforcement Guards, Safe Suppliers, Security Guarding, and Cash-in-Transit. Includes initial application and 2-year renewal cycle.
- Employee Licensing Services Statutory licensing service for individual security employees working in Ireland across sectors including Door Supervisor, Security Guard, Cash-in-Transit operative, Private Investigator, Monitoring Centre operator, Enforcement Guard, and Event Security personnel. Includes initial application and 3-year renewal cycle.
- Appeals Process Formal appeals process for applicants or licence holders aggrieved by PSA licensing decisions, administered independently by the Private Security Appeal Board. Covers appeals against refusals, suspensions, revocations, reprimands, warnings, cautions, advice, or variations of licences.
- Public Register Search Services Public searchable registers (PSA Registered Contractors and PSA Registered Employees) allowing consumers, businesses, and event organisers to verify the licence status of security contractor companies (1,383 entries) and individual security employees (43,346 entries).
- Enforcement and Inspection Services Compliance inspections and enforcement activities conducted through a nationwide network of Regional Inspectors, including announced and unannounced inspections of licensed operators, investigation of complaints, prosecution of unlicensed operators, and imposition of sanctions (revocation, suspension, reprimand, warning, caution, advice).
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 40,000 contractors and employees licensed across 14+ sectors
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The PSA Ireland
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The PSA Ireland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The PSA Ireland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The PSA Ireland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate (SLED) — NSW Police: NSW Police's specialist directorate responsible for licensing and regulating the private security industry in New South Wales under the Security Industry Act 1997. Issues master and operator licences across security sub-sectors analogous to those regulated by PSA Ireland.
- Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority (New Zealand): New Zealand's licensing body for individual private security personnel under the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010. Operates a similar licence-class structure (guards, investigators, etc.) to PSA Ireland but at a smaller scale and within a different jurisdiction.
- Police Licensing & Regulatory Department (PLRD) — Singapore Police Force: Singapore's police-led regulator for private security companies and personnel under the Police Force Act. Functions overlap closely with PSA Ireland (licensing, vetting, enforcement of security service providers) but is embedded within the national police force rather than operating as a standalone statutory body.
- Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS): California's state regulator for private security operators, security guards, alarm companies, locksmiths, and private investigators. Comparable function to PSA Ireland across a comparable roster of security sub-sectors, but operates in a different US state jurisdiction rather than competing directly.
Direct peers
- Security Industry Authority (SIA): The UK's statutory regulator for the private security industry, licensing individuals and businesses under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Operates a near-identical model to PSA Ireland — turnover-based contractor fees, sector-specific employee licences, public registers, and enforcement powers — making it the closest functional peer.
- Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA): South Africa's statutory regulator for the private security industry under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act 56 of 2001. Issues business and individual licences across security sectors, maintains a public register, and conducts compliance enforcement — directly mirroring PSA Ireland's regulatory scope and business model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The PSA Ireland social profiles
Digital presenceThe PSA Ireland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The PSA Ireland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
The PSA Ireland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The PSA Ireland M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The PSA Ireland
What does The PSA Ireland do?
The Private Security Authority (PSA) is Ireland's statutory regulatory body that licenses and regulates private security contractors and employees across 14–15 sectors including security guarding, door supervision, alarm/CCTV installation, locksmith services, private investigation, cash-in-transit, and safe supply. It issues licences to businesses and individuals, maintains public registers, conducts compliance inspections, and enforces the Private Security Services Acts through prosecution powers.
Is The PSA Ireland a public or private company?
The PSA Ireland is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was The PSA Ireland founded?
The PSA Ireland was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The PSA Ireland based?
The PSA Ireland is headquartered in Tipperary Town, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does The PSA Ireland make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Contractor Licensing Fees are the primary driver. The others are employee Licensing Fees, appeal Fees and replacement Document Fees.
Who are The PSA Ireland's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate (SLED) — NSW Police, Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority (New Zealand), Police Licensing & Regulatory Department (PLRD) — Singapore Police Force and Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). Direct peers are Security Industry Authority (SIA) and Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA).
Does The PSA Ireland have an API?
No public API is recorded for The PSA Ireland.
What industry is The PSA Ireland in?
The PSA Ireland's product category is Security Industry Regulation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAGAI, Security Sector Governance & Police Reform. Its NAICS code is 92615 and its SIC code is 7381.