Dáil hears of trainee garda assignments in Westmeath

A total of 51 probationer gardaí have undertaken training in Westmeath in the last 10 years. The figures came to light following a Dáil question by Offaly Fine Gael TD John Clendennen.

Deputy Clendennen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality, Jim O’Callaghan, the number and location of garda stations designated as training stations and the number of trainees currently assigned.

Data released as part of the reply indicated that there were no probationary gardaí assigned to the county for 2024 and 2025, but the number of probationer gardaí attached to training stations as of February 10 was four for Mullingar and two for Athlone. Between 2025 and 2025, Athlone received 22 gardaí in training, while 29 were assigned to Mullingar. The largest single appointment was the assignment of 15 trainees to Mullingar in 2017.

Neighbours Meath had 193 probationary gardaí serve their training period in the county, Offaly had 50, Cavan numbered 66 and a total of 36 served in Longford.

An Garda Síochána training station is designated, operational garda station where probationer gardaí are assigned during their training programme to gain hands-on, real-world policing experience.

The Garda Commissioner holds the responsibility for the distribution and deployment of probationer gardaí to garda stations across the state.

In his reply, Minister O’Callaghan said there are 97 training stations nationally. He told the chamber that since 2022, the Garda Trainee and Probationer Programme comprises a total of 106 weeks.

Trainee gardaí undergo 36 weeks of training, 24 of which are based in Templemore and 12 of which are in training stations. Once they have attested, probationer gardaí spend a further total 70 weeks in training stations.