Garda numbers reach three-year high as HQ puts new tech on display

An average of 440 gardaí have left the force — through retirements and resignations — over each of the last three years.

Depending on how many have already left this year, Garda strength could potentially hit around 14,400-14,500 by the end of 2025.

It would mark a noticeable improvement on recent years, where Garda HQ has struggled to push numbers passed 14,000, standing at 14,150 as recently as last February.

The Garda strength has fallen dramatically since March 2020, when it stood at 14,700. Since then, the country’s population rose by 9%, from 4.95m people to 5.38m.

The Government pledged to increase Garda recruitment by 5,000 over its five-year term, bringing the total strength to a long-time target of 15,000.

Over a year ago, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris indicated that a strength of 18,000 might be required.

At Garda HQ on Monday, Mr Harris said about 650 gardaí would be attested this year — leaving Templemore College and joining local stations.

Garda documentation, published alongside a new report, ‘Transforming An Garda Síochána 2018-2024’, said there are currently 14,318 gardaí.

This includes 149 who attested in March and 120 last Friday. The commissioner said there should be around 160 attested in August and some 200 in November.

In addition, he is hoping to boost the capacity of Templemore, so it could increase annual maximum student numbers from 800 to 1,000.

“At the moment, we are looking at how we can increase the capacity at Templemore to classes of approximately 250 [now 200],” he said. 

“That will allow for the recruitment of 1,000 per annum. How we are going to achieve that is back to our recruitment process. There’s a lot of interest."

The commissioner was commenting as Garda HQ displayed a wide range of new technologies and public order equipment acquired in recent years.

He said two new water cannons, one of them on display, were “prudent” purchases — not least in terms of being prepared for protests around Ireland’s presidency of the EU in the second half of 2026.

Mr Harris also said 700 gardaí are trialling new body-worn cameras in Limerick, Waterford, and Dublin. A nationwide rollout, on a phased basis, is due to begin at the end of this year.

Garda Brian Delaney, attached to the Limerick division, said body cameras are the “best piece of equipment” brought into the organisation in recent years.

He said the cameras de-escalate a situation when people know they are being recorded and can be very beneficial in domestic calls.

He said once you hit record, it has a 30-second pre-record function, which can capture criminal activity by the time a garda notices it and presses record.

Garda Ray O’Brien, attached to Cork City, said the mobility device — garda apps on a smartphone — have apps on a range of topics, from incident response, to the Garda Information Services Centre (the central incident recording system), automatic number plate recognition (allowing gardaí to check vehicle and driver details), and fixed charge notices.

He said that if a warning goes out for a suspect vehicle — such as one involving a kidnapped child — every garda on the street can now check relevant passing cars on their devices, rapidly increasing chances of finding the vehicle.