Issue Date: 24/07/2026
This morning 24th July 2026 206 Gardaí were attested as sworn members of An Garda Síochána. The graduation class of Intake 254 is the largest single attestation class since pre Covid-19/ 2019.
Strength of An Garda Síochána (24th July 2026)
• 14,733 Sworn Gardaí
• 3,683 Garda Staff
• 304Garda Reserves
• 604 Garda Trainees*
Probationer Gardaí (Intake 252):
• 142 Male/ 64 Female (69% male, 31% female)
• 24 Gardaí born outside the state from 15 countries
• Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, England, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Vietnam
These 206 newly sworn Gardaí will now take on operational responsibilities and will be allocated as follows:
• Dublin Region 94
• Eastern Region 56
• Southern Region 25
• North Western Region 31
NB: The allocation of Probationer Gardaí is initially to Training Garda Stations and allows for consequential inter-divisional transfers of other members.
These newly attested 206 members of An Garda Síochána were recruited as part of the 2024/ 2025 recruitment campaigns.
Intake 254 commenced training on the 17th November 2025 and have undertaken a blend of on-site learning in the Garda College, and experiential learning in training Garda stations.
The 206 newly attested Gardaí bring to over 2,200 the number of Probationer Gardaí attested since recruitment recommenced in 2022.
*Ongoing Recruitment:
A further 404 Garda recruits (Intakes 261, 262) are currently undergoing the training programme at the Garda College.
The next intake of Garda recruits (Intake 263) of over 200 Garda Trainees will enter the Garda College on Monday 27th July 2026.
Intake 263 will bring to nearly 3,000 the number of Garda Trainees that have started in the Garda College since recruitment recommenced in 2022.
Recruit classes continue to enter the Garda College every 11 - 12 weeks.
Garda Recruitment:
Garda Recruitment is a multistage process.
PublicJobs 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 PublicJobs 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
• Stage 1 – Garda College
• Stage 2 – Experiential, Observational learning Stage in Operational Garda Stations
• 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.
