This morning 14th November 2025 194 Gardaí and 17 Garda Reserves were attested as sworn members of An Garda Síochána. Strength of An Garda Síochána (14th November 2025) • 14,481 Sworn Gardaí • 312 Garda Reserves • 3,657 Garda Staff Probationer Gardaí (Intake 251): • 137 Male/ 57 Female (70% male, 30% female) • 18 Gardaí born outside the state o England, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Scotland, South Africa, Wales • 2 probationer Gardaí were former Reserve Gardaí These 194 newly sworn Gardaí will now take on operational responsibilities and will be allocated as follows: • Dublin Region 87 • Eastern Region 39 • Southern Region 47 • North Western Region 21 *The allocation of Probationer Gardaí is initially to Training Garda Stations and allows for consequential inter-divisional transfers of other members. These newly attested 194 members of An Garda Síochána were recruited as part of the 2024 recruitment campaign. The new Gardaí commenced their Garda training in March 2025 and have undertaken a blend of on-site learning in the Garda College, and experiential learning in training Garda stations. The 194 newly attested Gardaí bring to over 1,600 the number of Probationer Gardaí attested since recruitment recommenced and the first recruits, post-covid, entered the Garda College in December 2022. Garda Reserve (Intake 250): • 13 Male/ 4 Female (72% male, 28% female) • 3 Reserve Gardaí born outside the state o Brazil, India, Pakistan The 17 Garda Reserves will now take on operational responsibilities and will be allocated as follows: • Dublin Region 8 • Eastern Region 1 • Southern Region 3 • North Western Region 5 *The allocation of Garda Reserves, as volunteers, is in proximity to, but not directly their home location. The last Garda Reserve attestation was held on the 27th November 2020. An Garda Síochána advertised a competition for Garda Reserves in 2024 and received over 1,800 applicants. These newly attested 17 members of An Garda Síochána, Garda Reserve were recruited as part of this 2024 Garda Reserve recruitment campaign. The new Gardaí commenced their Garda training in April 2025 and have undertaken a blend of on-site learning in the Garda College, on-line learning and experiential learning in training Garda stations. This Intake of Garda Reserves (Intake 250) were the first Intake to complete a new Pilot Reserve Training course. A further class of Garda Reserves, Intake 251 are currently in training and further Intakes will commence during 2026. Ongoing Recruitment: A further 365 Garda recruits (Intakes 252, 253) are currently undergoing the training programme at the Garda College. The next intake of Garda recruits (intake 254), over 220 Garda Trainees, will enter the Garda College on Monday 17th November 2025. This will bring the number of Garda trainees who entered the College in 2025 to approximately 800. Since the 1st Garda recruits, post-covid, entered the Garda College in December 2022, including Intake 254 due to commence next Monday 17th November 2025, over 2,300 Garda Trainees will have started in the Garda College. Recruit classes are now entering the Garda College every 11 - 12 weeks. Speaking at today’s attestation, Commissioner Justin Kelly welcoming the new Garda probationers said: "Today is a proud day. A day to celebrate with your family and loved ones. A day to take stock of all it has taken to get you to this point. Today marks the start of your new career in An Garda Síochána.” Commissioner Kelly further said: "These encounters may be brief or fleeting, but these encounters stay with people. For many it will be the first time they have had cause to meet with a Garda.You may meet them on a dark day in their lives and you may bring them some light. It may be an interaction that occurs in silence, where you might sit with someone in a time of grief. Your presence matters and means something.” Welcoming the Garda Reserves Commissioner Kelly said: "A little earlier this morning we conducted the first attestation ceremony of Garda Reserves in five years. This saw 17 new Garda Reserves join An Garda Síochána. This cohort has been drawn from all corners of Ireland, span a wide demographic from those in their 20s to those in their 50s and represent all walks of life. They will go on to serve their communities in a voluntary way and will support our operational Gardaí in the delivery of their duties.” Concluding Commissioner Kelly reminded all the new members of An Garda Síochána: "It is a privilege and an honour to serve the public as a Garda, and I want to thank you all for choosing a career in An Garda Síochána.” Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment is a multistage process. Public Appointments Service (PAS) phase: • Stage 1: Following completion of the online application form, candidates are required to complete online Verbal, Numerical Assessment Tests and Questionnaires. • Stage 2: Successful candidates at stage 1 are invited to undertake a competency based interview. Following Interview PAS provide details of successful candidate to An Garda Síochána to undergo Stage 3, Appointments Process. The appointments process is conducted by An Garda Síochána. During the appointments process candidates must complete • Physical Competence Test (PCT) • Medical Examination • Substance Misuse (Controlled Drug) Testing • Vetting In successful completion of all the above parts a candidate may be invited to partake in the Foundation Training Programme as Recruit Gardaí. • Phase 1 of the Foundation Training Programme takes 32 weeks and includes o Stage 1 – Garda College o Stage 2 – Experiential, Observational learning Stage in Operational Garda Stations o Stage 3 – Capstone stage, Garda College At the completion of Phase 1 of the Foundation Training Programme Recruit Gardaí are attested and become Probationer Gardaí. Garda Reserve Training: The Garda Reserve Training Programme is a five phase incremental academic and practical training programme, as follows: Phase 1 Phase One consists of two periods of training • Garda College for two days of instruction on the basic concepts of Policing. • 5 hours of mandatory On-Line Learning completed on the Garda Educational Training System (GETS). The Blended Learning introduces Garda Reserve Trainees to basic functions and the role of An Garda Síochána. This Phase concludes with an on-line interactive tutorial with Garda College Instructors in order to ensure that the Garda Reserve Trainees have acquired and comprehended the required learning in order to progress onto Phase 2 of their training. Phase 2 The Phase includes 12 hours of in person classes with Regional CPD (Continuous Professional Development) Schools. During this Phase there are knowledge checks with on-line interactive tutorials with Garda College Instructors in order to ensure that the Garda Reserve Trainees have acquired and comprehended the required learning in order to progress in their training. Phase 3 Phase 3 of the Garda Reserve training commences with a week-long residential learning period in the Garda College. Garda Reserve Trainees will undergo Baton, OC Spray and intensive Self Defence training during this period. This will incorporate role play exercises including Tetra radio procedures. There will also be in person lectures delivered by Garda College Instructors. Phase 4 Phase 4 of Garda Reserve training will consist of two periods of prescribed training. • one will be conducted by Regional CPD schools. • followed by a mandatory 48-hour work placement whereby the Garda Reserve Trainees will be assigned to a Garda Station. • While on placement they will accompany members on duty (with a fully operational Garda member other than a Garda Reserve), in an observational capacity. Phase 5 – Attestation Ceremony | 