Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
461. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of people that applied to join An Garda Síochána in 2025; the number that commenced training in 2025; the number attested in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11241/26]
View answerGetting more Gardaí on our streets to prevent and detect crime is my first priority as Minister. This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with Budget 2026 providing unprecedented funding of €2.74 billion to support recruitment and staffing.
Recruitment into An Garda Síochána is now gathering real momentum. I am determined to ensure that we maintain a strong pipeline of recruits to Templemore. To that end, and for the first time ever, there were two Garda recruitment competitions held in 2025. There was significant interest in both competitions, with over 11,100 people applying to join An Garda Síochána. This demonstrates the strong interest in a career in An Garda Síochána.
I am informed by Garda authorities that 794 trainees commenced training in 2025, the highest number since 2018. This includes 223 recruits who entered Templemore in December, the largest single intake in over a decade.
619 Gardaí attested in 2025 in four attestation ceremonies. 151 attested in March 2025, 120 in June 2025, 154 in August 2025 and 194 in November 2025.
The Programme for Government commits to recruiting at least 5,000 new Gardaí over the term of this Government and I remain fully committed to achieving that goal.
