An Garda Síochána welcomed 215 new Garda Trainees who started their training in the Garda College yesterday, Monday 9th February 2026 as Intake 261. This follows the recent attestation of 167 Gardaí (Intake 252) as sworn members of An Garda Síochána on Friday, 6th February 2026. Intake 261 will bring to: • 625 the number of Garda Trainees currently in training (Intakes 253, 254, 261) and • over 2,500, the number of Garda Trainees who have started in the Garda College since recruitment recommenced in 2022 post-Covid. Recruit classes continue to enter the Garda College every 11 - 12 weeks. Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment is a multi-stage process. Public Jobs 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 Public Jobs provides details of successful candidates 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. | 