Largest intake of Garda recruits in a decade starts in the Garda College

Today is Day Two for the 223 Garda recruits who yesterday, November 17, commenced training in the Garda College Templemore.

Intake 254 is the largest Garda Recruit Intake to enter the Garda College in a decade.

A further 365 Garda recruits (Intakes 252, 253) are currently undergoing the training programme at the Garda College.

Intake 254 brings the number of Garda Trainees to

• 588 Trainees currently in training

• Approximately 800 Trainees to have entered the Garda College in 2025

• Over 2,300 Trainees to have entered the Garda College post-covid

Recruit classes are now entering the Garda College every 12 weeks.

Last Friday 14th November 2025 194 Gardaí were attested as sworn members of An Garda Síochána bringing the strength of An Garda Síochána to 14,481 Sworn Gardaí.

Applications

There have been over 11,000 applications to the two Garda recruitment competitions held in 2025.

The Garda Recruitment Campaign, which closed on October 9 last, attracted 4,334 applications.

This comes after the Garda Recruitment Campaign held in February 2025 received more than 6,784 applications.

Of the 4,334 applications, 57% were first-time applicants to a Garda recruitment competition.

The September/October 2025 competition saw continued strong interest from people over 30 with 40% of applicants in this age category. In the February 2025 campaign, it was 42%.

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

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.