Garda recruitment has fallen even further behind Government's target

Newly graduated gardaí including Erin Donald from Derry, centre, celebrating at the Garda College graduation ceremony at McCan Barracks in Templemore, Co Tipperary on December 12. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

The latest garda figures show that 631 recruits entered Templemore College last year — significantly short of the 800-1,000 target set by the Government.

It marks a drop from the number recruited the previous year, when 746 recruits were taken on, which was short of the minimum target of 800.

The numbers raise questions over how the new administration will recruit 1,000 per year over the next five years as set out in its Programme for Government.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said it was “very difficult” to see where the 5,000 new recruits will come from, claiming that garda numbers have “hardly increased” over the past 15 years.

The Programme for Government states that it will provide funding for the recruitment of “at least” 5,000 new gardaí over the next five years, to hit the historic target of 15,000.

It said the Government will “consider the establishment” of a second garda training college and allowing garda trainees to undertake part of the training course in regional universities.

3.5% fewer gardaí as population rose 9% 

When the outgoing government took office in June 2020, garda numbers stood at 14,700.

The latest figures show that the garda strength was at 14,191 at the end of December, a drop of 3.5%.

In the same time period, the Irish population has risen from 4.95m to 5.38m, an increase of 9%.

That garda strength at the end of 2024 compares with 13,988 in January of that year — an increase of just over 200.

Falling numbers of gardaí in Cork

In some divisions the strength actually fell, with numbers in Cork City reducing from 695 in January 2024 to 673 by end of December.

New figures also show that 599 probationary gardaí were attested in 2024.

But new attestations are partly negated by people leaving, with garda statistics showing that a total of 359 members left the force in 2024, including voluntary and compulsory retirements, resignations, dismissals, deaths, and medical discharges. The figure was 521 in 2023 and 477 in 2022.

Garda recruitment was badly hit by covid, with only 275 recruits in 2020, 380 in 2021, and 116 in 2022.

GRA vice president Niall Hodgins said:  "The truth is, garda numbers have hardly increased over the past 15 years due to a continuing recruitment and retention problem so it is very difficult to see where these 5,000 will come from, unless there is a genuine look at vastly improving the terms, conditions and the environment in which our members work.

There has been a huge problem attracting young people into a career in An Garda Síochána over the past decade despite the garda budget reaching record highs. 

He said this pointed to consecutive failures in policies and decisions that try and “plug holes” in depleted garda numbers. 

He added: "We need to significantly improve the working pay, pensions and conditions of the job itself to attract new members and to make those who are already serving gardaí to feel more appreciated and supported and convince them to stay on for longer.”