Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2025
387. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 1548 of 8 September 2025, if the information regarding the average time in each of the past five years between application to join An Garda Síochána and attestation is now available, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62683/25]
View answerI refer to Parliamentary Question No. 1703 of 8 September 2025 where you sought: “the average time in each of the past five years between application to join An Garda Síochána and attestation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter."
An Garda Síochána have provided the following table with the average time from application to commencement of training from 2022 to date:
|
Competition Year |
Average time from date of application to commencing training |
|
2022 |
74 weeks |
|
2023 |
66 weeks |
|
2024 |
59 weeks |
|
2025 |
24 weeks |
I am advised that these timeframes are based on the best information currently available. However, as several overlapping processes are involved, the timelines are approximate and subject to change.
The Garda authorities have also advised that they have recently revised their recruitment processes so that successful applicants can enter the Garda College sooner and candidates who are unsuccessful are informed earlier.
Upon commencing training at the Garda College a Trainee Garda must complete Phase 1 of training before they attest. Phase 1 of the Programme has evolved over the lifetime of its existence, reacting to changing content and the incorporation of blended learning.
Between 2014-2020 Phase I of training took place over 32 weeks. Between 2022-2024 this phase took place over 34 weeks. Since 2024 this phase takes place over 36 weeks.
On completion of Phase 1 trainees are attested and are designated as probationer Gardaí. They must then complete 70 weeks of further training, both on-the-job and classroom-based, before they complete training and receive a B.A in Applied Policing.
