Issue Date: 19/05/2022
• 102 Gardaí newly attested today
• 64 Male/ 38 Female (65% male, 35% female)*
• 16 born outside the state – New Zealand, Lithuania, Angola, Croatia, Poland, England, Northern Ireland, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, Scotland.
Strength of An Garda Síochána (as of 19th May 2022)
• 14,396 Sworn Gardaí (72% male, 28% female)
• 401 Garda Reserves (74% male, 26% female)
• 3,345 Garda Staff (28% male, 72% female)
• 81 recruit Gardaí currently in training
This morning 19th May 2022 102 Gardaí were attested as sworn members.
These 102 (63% male, 37% female) newly sworn members of An Garda Síochána will bring the total number of sworn Gardaí to 14,396.
These members of An Garda Síochána commenced their Garda training in September 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 102 newly sworn Gardaí will now take on operational responsibilities.
Speaking at the Graduation Ceremony in the Garda College Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said, "The training to become a Garda is demanding under any normal circumstances. But undertaking the programme during the public health crisis will have made it all the more challenging for this intake of 102 trainees.”
"Each one came forward to pursue a career in An Garda Síochána at a critical and uncertain time so from the very outset they have shown their ability and commitment to protecting the public.
I admire their personal strength and dedication in seeing the programme through to today’s attestation.”
He added, "In An Garda Síochána, we know that being more reflective of the diverse and inclusive society we serve will enhance our ability to provide an effective police service for all people.
We have one of the highest levels of female police officers in Europe, but we recognise that there is still work to do.
We have to continue encouraging women and those from diverse backgrounds to join An Garda Síochána. Close to 40% of the new Gardaí passing out today are women. The 102 trainees represent 11 different nationalities including Saudi Arabia, Guatemala and Lithuania.
During our recent recruitment campaign, we placed huge organisational effort on attracting candidates from a wide range of diverse backgrounds.
We learned this month that over 11,000 people have applied to become a member of An Garda Síochána.”
"There are positive signs too in the fact that roughly 40% of applicants are women and there has been an increase in numbers applying across a range of ethnic backgrounds” concluded Commissioner Harris.
Note -
Breakdown of newly allocated Garda Members
• 64 Male/ 38 Female (65% male, 35% female)*
• 16 Gardaí born outside the state – New Zealand, Lithuania, Angola, Croatia, Poland, England, Northern Ireland, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, Scotland
Regional Allocation:
Dublin 61
East 23
South 12
Northwest 6
Total 102
*The allocation of Probationer Gardaí is initially to Training Garda Stations and also allows for consequential inter-divisional transfers of other members.
A further 81 Garda recruits, encompassing 2 intakes, are currently undergoing the blended training programme at the Garda College.
As of the 31st March 2022, a total of 862 sworn Garda members have been reassigned to operational duties as a result of increase in Garda staff recruitment. Garda staff recruitment is ongoing.
An Garda Síochána successfully completed a recruitment campaign on the 16th March 2022 receiving 11,075 applications.
Funding is provided to commencement recruitment of up to 800 Gardaí from this competition in 2022 and beyond.
• 8,570 applicants declared their ethnicity as "White-Irish”
• 598 applicants declared their ethnicity as "White-Any Other White Background” (347 in 2019)
• 43 said they were "White-Irish Traveller” (14 in 2019)
• 332 said they were "Asian or Asian Irish - Any Other Asian Background” (68 in 2019)
• 55 said they were "Asian or Asian Irish - Chinese” (7 in 2019)
• 132 said they were "Black or Black Irish-African” (8 in 2019)
• 122 said they were "Other including Mixed Background (37 in 2019)
• 1,196 people did not declare their ethnicity or preferred not to say.
• 71 applications came from people currently serving as Garda Reserves.
