MORE than 200 trainee Gardaí have entered the Garda College this week marking the largest intake in six years.
Some 201 trainees began their course in Templemore yesterday (March 10), which is the highest number since 2019.
Their intake follows the attestation of 149 new probationer Gardaí at a ceremony in Templemore on Friday, March 7.
"I am delighted to see such a large number of trainee Gardaí enter Templemore,” Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said this week.
Minister O'Callaghan attended the attestation of 149 new Garda recruits who passed out at Templemore on Friday, March 7“This government is fully committed to strengthening An Garda Síochána by 5,000 members over the next five years.”
He added: “We have already taken a number of significant measures to boost recruitment and we will continue to explore all options. More and more Gardaí are coming through this College and onto our streets and this shows these measures are working.
"I have made increasing recruitment to An Garda Síochána a priority issue. More Gardaí in our cities, villages, and towns is fundamental to achieving our goal of ensuring people are safe and feel safe.”
Launched last month, the latest Garda recruitment campaign received over 6,700 applications, the police force has confirmed.
This is an increase on the 5,000 applications received in 2023 and the almost 6,400 received in 2024.
"This is a hugely positive story for An Garda Síochána, which I hope will help to change the recent narrative around its workforce,” Minister O’Callaghan said.
“The high number of applications shows that the message that this is a job worth doing is resonating with the public and is a testament to the innovative and creative recruitment campaign that was run by An Garda Síochána last month.”
He added: "I also welcome the fact that 32 per cent of applicants are female, 42 per cent of applicants are aged 30 and over, and 23 per cent of those who stated their background have detailed an ethnic background other than white Irish.
“An Garda Síochána is a community-focused policing service so it is important that it reflect our diverse and thriving communities.
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