Did you find what you were looking for?
Find what you were looking for?
Help us improve AI search results by giving your feedback (3-5 mins).
Minister Jim O’Callaghan publishes 2025 Annual Report of An Garda Síochána
- Published on:
- Last updated on:
The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan has published the 2025 Annual Report of An Garda Síochána.
The Report covers a significant year for An Garda Síochána as the organisation adapted to the comprehensive reforms to the governance and oversight of the organisation, and a new approach to community safety, with the commencement of the Policing, Security, and Community Safety Act in April 2025.
Minister O’Callaghan said:
“I am pleased to publish this report which outlines the level of work carried out by An Garda Síochána in 2025 and the significant efforts made to set the organisation up for success into the future. We know that the challenges which face An Garda Síochána are ever-evolving. To continue to keep the public safe, An Garda Síochána must also evolve, and this Report evidences the commendable efforts by the Garda Commissioner and his management team to deliver a policing service which is responsive to change.
“With the support of government, An Garda Síochána continue to expand their fleet, including a new fixed wing aircraft which was delivered in December 2025, upgrade the estate through the investment of €172 million, and invest in modern equipment for frontline Gardaí. The Proof of Concept deployment of Body Worn Cameras in five stations has proved successful and puts the organisation on a strong footing to introduce them to every frontline member of An Garda Síochána. The Investigation Management System roll-out continued, which will improve the accessibility of investigative information, contributing to a better case management and a more standardised investigative process.
“I also want to thank the Garda Board, which was established with the commencement of the PSCS Act last year. The commencement of the Act resulted in the most comprehensive reform of how our policing service is governed. The oversight of An Garda Síochána and their role in our whole-of-society approach to community safety has also changed significantly. The Garda Board has been and will continue to be an invaluable support to Garda management as it navigates these new structures.”
In line with government policy a High Visibility Policing Plan was introduced in Dublin City Centre in March 2025 to support community safety and deter anti-social behaviour. The new Garda Operating Model was fully introduced across all 21 Divisions in May 2025. Divisional Protective Service Units were rolled out to all Garda Divisions across the country and the Garda National Protective Services Bureau's High-Risk Victim Support Programme was expanded. These initiatives will enable Gardaí to create safer communities across the country.
An Garda Síochána also continued its work to proactively disrupt Serious and Organised Crime in collaboration with national and international partners, making significant seizures in 2025, including that of over €30 million worth of cocaine during a Joint Task Force operation with the Revenue Customs Service and the Irish Naval Service in Cork.
Commissioner Kelly said:
“I join the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in welcoming the publication of An Garda Síochána’s Annual Report for 2025. The Report reflects a significant year for An Garda Síochána, during which Garda personnel continued to deliver a high-quality policing and security service while adapting to a changing and complex operational environment.
“This is the first Annual Report produced following the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which established the Garda Board, the Policing and Community Safety Authority and Fiosrú, introducing changes to the governance, oversight and accountability of An Garda Síochána.
“Key policing developments during the year included the continued rollout of high visibility policing to support community safety, the full introduction of the Garda Operating Model across all 21 Divisions, the commencement of a Taser pilot for frontline uniform Gardaí and further strengthening of services for victims and vulnerable people. The Report also reflects the significant work undertaken across specialist and national services, including serious crime investigations, public order operations, national security, and preparations for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026.
“Supporting our people also remained a priority during 2025. More than 4,500 Garda personnel had received Mental Health First Aid training by year end, reflecting our continued focus on the health and wellbeing of those who serve communities across the country.
“I want to thank all Garda personnel for their professionalism, dedication and commitment to public service throughout 2025. Every day, across policing, security and community safety, their work makes a real difference to the safety and wellbeing of people and communities across Ireland. As we move through 2026, An Garda Síochána will continue to build on the progress made during 2025 and deliver on our mission of keeping people safe.”
The Minister added:
“The introduction of High Visibility Patrols across 2025 has had a positive impact on crime levels resulting in a 23% drop in theft, a 33% reduction in robbery from the person, and assaults causing harm were down by 18%. Feedback from the public and businesses operating in the city centre has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The High Visibility Patrols are now in operation in Cork and Limerick. Garda management plan to continue to roll these out to other areas across the country this year. To support this, recruitment into An Garda Síochána will be vitally important. That is why we have held three recruitment competitions, attracting over 15,000 applications, over the course of the previous 16 months.
“Just under 800 trainees entered the Garda College in 2025, the highest number since 2018. Over 400 trainees have entered Templemore this year, with two more intakes scheduled for later in the year. With the existing pipeline of applicants, and as the rate of recruitment continues apace, we will soon see the largest ever number of Gardaí working in the State.”
ENDS...///
Notes for Editor
The annual report can be found on An Garda Síochána website here.
Previous Annual Reports can be found on An Garda Síochána website here.
Garda Resourcing in 2025
Total gross expenditure in 2025 was €2.54 billion, €270 million higher than in 2024.
At year end, the workforce was made up of 14,425 Gardaí, 3,672 Garda staff, and 308 Garda Reserves. At the end of May this year, total Garda personnel stood at over 18,200, which included 14,621 Gardaí, 3,498 Garda Staff, and 295 Reserves.
Over 11,000 people applied to join An Garda Síochána in 2025 over the course of two Garda trainee recruitment campaigns.
619 trainees were attested during 2025, becoming operational members of An Garda Síochána in Divisions across the country.
Capital expenditure of €172m supported a number of important estates projects including the completion of the redevelopment of Garda Immigration Facilities at Rosslare Europort. Work on the new Bailieborough Garda Station, the Portlaoise Divisional Headquarters and the new Community Engagement HQ for Limerick County in Newcastle West was also progressed in 2025.
A new fixed wing aircraft for the Garda Air Support Unit was delivered in December 2025.
The Garda fleet stood at 3,650 vehicles. By year end, 407 vehicles were allocated nationwide representing a net increase of 61. There were 77 new electric vehicles integrated into the Garda transport fleet in 2025, bringing the total to 298 EVs.
Key Achievements in 2025
The Annual Report sets out a significant range of activities related to general policing as well as work carried out by specialist units, targeted operations and on corporate services. Some key achievements during the year are highlighted below:
- In line with government policy An Garda Siochana introduced a High Visibility Policing Plan in Dublin City Centre in March 2025 to support community safety and deter anti-social behaviour. This initiative has since been rolled out to Cork and Limerick City Centres, as well as areas of South Dublin, including Tallaght and Dún Laoghaire.
- An Garda Síochána continued to support victims of crime through a number of initiatives. There was a particular focus on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in 2025. This was evidenced through the continued expansion of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau's High-Risk Victim Support Programme which became fully operational in the Dublin Metropolitan, Eastern and Southern Regions.
- A Data Sharing Agreement between An Garda Síochána and Tusla aimed at improving data analysis related to children in care and enabling more informed decision making and safeguarding measures was finalised.
- The new Garda Operating Model was fully introduced across all 21 Divisions in May 2025. The report notes that the Operating Model is resulting in a more consistent delivery of service, a stronger focus on governance and standards, and more specialised services in areas such as domestic abuse and cyber-crime delivered locally.
- The Annual Report characterised the international security situation as complex, influenced by state-on-state conflict, hostile state activity, and transnational terrorism, all of which has the potential to impact directly on Ireland’s national security. In 2025 AGS marked 100 years of the Special Detective Unit and the Annual Report recognised the SDU’s vigilant ongoing work in protecting the security of the State.
- In December a significant policing and security operation was put in place for the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The report states that the success of this operation will pave the way for the second half of 2026, when Ireland will assume the EU Presidency during which An Garda Síochána will be required to fulfil considerable security and logistical commitments, while at the same time maintaining business as usual in frontline policing.
- The operational use of Body Worn Cameras continued across five stations in Dublin, Limerick and Waterford in a Proof of Concept deployment. Planning for a national roll-out of Body Worn Cameras is progressing with the procurement process to take place in 2026.
- In December 2025 An Garda Síochána commenced a Taser pilot for a limited number of frontline uniform Gardaí in Dublin City and Waterford, in areas where Body Worn Cameras have already been deployed.
- The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau supported by Divisional Detective and Drugs Units seized illicit drugs valued at €126 million in 2025. This included the seizure of over €30 million worth of cocaine during a Joint Task Force operation with the Revenue Customs Service and the Irish Naval Service in Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork in July.
- The report also points to an increase in immigration enforcement activity by the Garda National Immigration Bureau including the removal of persons subject to deportation orders from the State via charter or commercial flights as well as a targeted operation to remove non-Irish nationals convicted of sexual crimes from the State. There was a 174% increase in the number of persons (367) removed from the State by the GNIB by execution of Deportation Orders compared to 2024. 50 persons were removed by execution of EU Removal Orders representing a similar level of increase in percentage terms.
- Throughout 2025 the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) held several media engagements highlighting emerging fraud trends, new methods used by criminal groups, and providing practical crime prevention advice.
