Issue Date: 16/09/2025
An Garda Síochána offers a unique training experience where candidates get paid during training and graduate with a Level 7 degree.
At today’s National Ploughing Championship, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan TD and An Garda Síochána Commissioner Justin Kelly, announced a fresh recruitment drive for An Garda Síochána.
The latest Garda recruitment competition will open on Thursday 18th September 2025 and will run until 3pm on Thursday 9th October 2025.
The competition will be conducted by publicjobs on behalf of An Garda Síochána. Candidates can apply at www.publicjobs.ie.
Prospective candidates are being urged to consider the variety of roles that can be pursued within An Garda Síochána and the active nature of the role that means post holders are not typically desk-based and get to work on their fitness as part of the job.
The costs of training to become a member of An Garda Síochána compares favourably with the costs of third level education. Garda Trainees are paid €354 per week for the 36 weeks of training in the Garda College and graduate with a Level 7 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Applied Policing accredited by the University of Limerick. Food and accommodation is provided free while resident in the Garda College.
Those who successfully complete their training come out to a guaranteed, full-time public-service pensionable job, where they start on a salary of €38,694 which rises incrementally. Garda Trainees will be assigned to work the core shift roster (12 hours) which attracts additional allowances, and will have the opportunity to work on overtime.
An Garda Síochána needs a diverse workforce that reflects the country’s population, and encourages applicants aged between 18 - 49 from all backgrounds to apply.
At the most recent attestation of Garda Trainees, 26 of the 154 that attested were born outside the state including Belarus, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, and Romania.
In addition, the competition is open to people up to the age of 50. In the last recruitment competition which took place in February 2025, 42% of applicants were aged 30 and over.
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan TD said:
"As Minister my first priority is to get more Gardaí on our streets. The Programme for Government commits to recruiting at least 5,000 Gardaí in the coming five years, and the launch of a second recruitment campaign this year reflects that commitment.
"This campaign will ensure that the pipeline of new Gardaí remains strong and ensure our communities are safe and feel safe. I want to encourage people to consider a career in An Garda Síochána – it is not an easy job, but it is very much a job worth doing.”
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said that:
"I’m delighted to formally announce our latest Garda Trainee Campaign, which will go live on Thursday, 18th of September. It follows on from our February Garda Trainee campaign which saw more than 6,700 individuals apply, and will help secure a future pipeline of Garda Trainees.
"As an organisation we are growing, but we recognise that to meet the demands of a growing and diverse society we need to build in greater resilience. Our current strength stands at approximately 14,400 which will be further bolstered by another cohort of trainees due to graduate in November.
"This campaign aims to build on the progress made to date.
"What we have consistently seen through the recruitment process is that An Garda Síochána is still proving an attractive career choice to many.
"Speaking from my own experience, I believe strongly that very few other jobs provide the same opportunities or variety in terms of a career. The work does test you at times, but it is honourable work, it is work with real purpose and meaning.
"It is a job that contributes to society and the work has a lasting impact upon people. It is true to say it is a tough job, sometimes dangerous, and challenging, but ultimately it is rewarding and certainly a job worth doing.”
To promote the recruitment competition, a €685,000 (incl VAT) promotional campaign, under the tag line of "It’s a Job Worth Doing” will go live across online video, national and local print and radio, social media, and outdoor from this Thursday, 18th of September. The campaign focuses on the positive impact Gardaí have on people and communities across a variety of policing roles. It was produced by Core and Spark Foundry in conjunction with creative video agency Rubberduck.
Interested applicants will have just three weeks to apply. Visit https://www.publicjobs.ie/en/garda-trainee for more information and to submit your application.
Those interested in pursuing a career with An Garda Síochána should consider the below additional benefits to the basic salary:
- The Foundation Training Programme that all trainees undergo incorporates a Level 7 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Applied Policing, accredited by the University of Limerick
- Garda Trainees will receive an allowance of €354 per week for the 36 weeks of training
- Accommodation and food is provided while resident in the Garda College from Sunday to Friday
- Starting salary is €38,694 and this rises incrementally
- Garda Trainees will be assigned to work the core shift roster (12 hours) which attracts additional allowances
- Gardaí will have the opportunity to work on overtime which is paid at a rate of time and a half, unless working on a Sunday/public holiday which is paid at double time
- The Fast Accrual (Uniformed) Members Pension Scheme allows members to build up pension benefits at a higher rate each year
- Flexible working options available throughout career
- Access to the Doctors of Choice GP scheme (GP consultation fee is covered by An Garda Síochána)
- Access to the Medical Aid Scheme
- Access to numerous Garda societies and clubs
- Access to Garda Credit Unions.
Since Garda recruitment recommenced, and the first Garda Trainees entered the Garda College in December 2022;
- Over 2,000 Garda Trainees have entered the Garda College
- Over 1,400 Probationer Gardaí have attested to An Garda Síochána
- Over 550 Garda recruits are currently undergoing the training programme at the Garda College.
Recruit classes are now entering the Garda College every 11 - 12 weeks.
The next attestation of Probationer Gardaí and intake of Garda Trainees to the Garda College will take place in November 2025.
Candidates applying for An Garda Síochána through this campaign are anticipated to start training through various Garda Recruit classes in 2026.
Gardaí Trainees on why they joined An Garda Síochána:
Garda Probationer Michael Connolly attested to An Garda Síochána on the 22 August 2025. He is the oldest Garda recruit to have joined An Garda Síochána, turning 50 while in training in the Garda College. Michael is a high-performing senior referee in the FAI. He applied for An Garda Síochána in February 2024 and entered the Garda College in December 2024. Speaking about joining An Garda Síochána Michael says: "I always had a grá for An Garda Síochána”. Advice for an older trainee is that "Templemore is a fabulous place, your accommodation is laid on, your food is laid on…., it just sets you up that you can focus on your classes, look after your studies, do what needs to be done.” With a supportive home environment, partner, children and family, Michael would encourage anybody in the older age group to go for it.
Garda Trainee Alex Shortt was too young to join An Garda Síochána when she completed her Leaving Certificate in 2023. While waiting for a further recruitment campaign and offer of a Garda position, Garda Trainee Shortt joined Ryanair as Cabin Crew before entering the Garda College in March 2025. When in secondary school she remembered Community Gardaí coming in to give talks and engage in activities, and remembered the support provided by Gardaí following a burglary at a relative’s house. She would encourage anyone thinking of joining, "if it’s something you want to do, just go for it.”
Garda Trainee Amy Ní Riada also joined An Garda Síochána in March 2025. She developed her interest in joining An Garda Síochána after a number of years working in broadcast journalism, often covering stories on humanitarian crises. She has joined An Garda Síochána through the Irish Applicant stream. Amy describes the Garda College as a dynamic environment which she loves.
Garda Kristina Courtney is another Garda Trainee who joined An Garda Síochána in March 2025. Prior to joining An Garda Síochána, she studied communication and media production studies, working in television for over 10 years, including Dancing with Stars, but also Crimecall and Primetime. Over the years, Kristina has taken part in multiple Ironman competitions and more recently, opened her own gym. In the back of her mind, Kristina always wanted to join An Garda Síochána and working on Crimecall developed her interest in the job. She describes training as "challenging” but "great”.
