Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
720. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when he expects the next class of Garda recruits to be attested; if he expects any further groups to be attested in 2026; the total number of new Gardaí expected to join the Force in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3446/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGetting more Gardaí on our streets to prevent and detect crime is my first priority as Minister. The Programme for Government commits to recruiting 5,000 Gardaí over five years. 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.
The provision of training and Garda recruitment is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner but I can inform the Deputy that the next group of Garda trainees are due to complete their training at the Garda College shortly and will attest in February 2026, with further attestations being planned during 2026.
At the end of November, the total Garda personnel strength stood at over 18,200, which included 14,462 Gardaí, 3,486 Garda Staff, and 308 Reserves. I will continue to support An Garda Síochána to increase this number further so that we can see more Gardaí assigned all across the country.
Interest in a career as a Garda is high, with over 11,000 applications received over the two competitions in 2025.
Overall, I am informed by Garda authorities that 794 trainees entered the Garda College in 2025, the highest number since 2018.
There will be four intakes to the Garda College in 2026 and the intention is to increase the capacity of each intake to 250, once works are complete at the College.
As the Deputy may be aware a Recruitment and Training Capacity Group was established in 2024 to support the achievement of increased recruitment. The Group has now completed its work and its report has been published on my Department's website. Overall, the Group has concluded that the Government's recruitment plans are achievable but challenging.
