Issue Date: 14 January 2022
- 122 Gardaí newly attested today
- 26 further recruit Gardaí, will be attested in the coming weeks
Strength of An Garda Síochána (as of 14th January 2022)
- 14,411 Sworn Gardaí (72% male, 28% female)
- 429 Garda Reserves (74% male, 26% female)
- 3,388 Garda Staff (28% male, 72% female)
- 235 recruit Gardaí currently in training
- New Garda Recruitment campaign to launch in the coming weeks
This morning 14th January 2022; 122 Gardaí were attested as sworn members.
They will be joined in the coming weeks by 26 of their colleagues, whose attestation today has been deferred to comply with Covid-19 guidelines.
These 148 (73% male, 27% female) newly sworn members of An Garda Síochána will bring the total number of sworn Gardaí to 14,411.
These members of An Garda Síochána commenced their Garda training in May 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic and have undertaken a blend of on-line learning, on-site learning in the Garda College, and experiential learning in training Garda stations. These 148 Garda trainees will now take on operational responsibilities.
Commissioner Drew Harris said, "These new Gardaí were willing to come forward to pursue a career in An Garda Síochána at a critical time during a global pandemic, and very quickly adjusted to a model of hybrid learning. So from the very outset they have shown their ability and commitment to protecting the public.
"Our new Gardaí will help implement community policing initiatives, crime detection and prevention, and supporting the vulnerable, particularly during the on-going pandemic.
"It is very welcome that 27% of the Gardaí attested are female. We are already above the European average for our level of female Gardaí and we want to increase this further in the coming years.”
Commissioner Harris added, "An Garda Síochána is a growing organisation. Along with the new Gardaí today, we have 235 currently in training. We will also shortly launch our recruitment campaign with 800 recruit Gardaí to commence training this year. In addition, we are continuing to reassign Gardaí from administrative duties to operational duties.
"I wish to congratulate each Garda, and their families on their attestation today. It is a very proud day for you all, and you are most welcome to An Garda Síochána. I look forward to us working together to keep people safe,” concluded Commissioner Harris.
