Press release
Minister for Justice announces new Garda recruitment campaign
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice Simon Harris has today announced that a new recruitment campaign for An Garda Síochána will open for applications this Friday, 24 March 2023, for three weeks.
This new recruitment campaign will assist in the recruitment of 1,000 new Gardaí this year, as provided for in Budget 2023, and will secure a strong pipeline of recruits into the Garda College into the future.
Speaking today, the Minister for Justice said:
"A career in An Garda Síochána is a challenging but rewarding one. It will change your life and the lives of others – having a personal impact on the community you serve will give you a sense of achievement like nothing else. Being a Garda is a tough job, but is a job worth doing.
"Few institutions in Irish life are as respected as An Garda Síochána. The close connection between Gardaí and the communities they serve is the envy of police services around the world.
"Recruiting 1,000 Gardaí in 2023 is central to the government’s commitment to build stronger, safer communities, and I know there will be people listening today who will hear this and think that they too can work with us to deliver on that mission.
"Policing is not a career for the faint of heart – it is a career for those with strong initiative and perseverance, tolerance, composure, a strong moral compass and most importantly respect and compassion for the communities that they serve. To protect and to serve in An Garda Síochána is a worthwhile and valued career, and I would like to encourage anyone who feels up to the job to consider applying.”
Both the government and Garda Commissioner are committed to increasing diversity within An Garda Síochána and ensuring that all communities see themselves reflected in our police service. The Garda Commissioner has put a welcome focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, as An Garda Síochána seek to embed the principle that human rights are the foundation and the purpose of policing in Ireland.
This has included changes to Garda uniform policy, the establishment of the Garda National Diversity Forum, representation from diverse and minority communities in An Garda Síochána, the establishment of a Garda internship programme focused on attracting candidates belonging to a group at greater risk of inequality or social exclusion in Irish society. An Garda Síochána are working to finalise an updated Equality, Diversity and Integration Strategy.
Minister Harris said:
"It is incredibly important that a modern police service reflects the communities that it serves. If An Garda Síochána better reflects the rich diversity of Irish society, they will be better able to understand the different needs and concerns of the communities they serve and in turn make those communities stronger and safer.
"An Garda Síochána is an inclusive organisation to work for, not only regardless of but embracing of your race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and socio-economic background.
"Visit publicjobs.ie for more information on how to apply.”
There are currently over 200 trainees in the Garda College, derived from the most recent recruitment campaign launched in 2022 by Minster Helen McEntee.
The Garda Commissioner has outlined to the Minister his intention that four further tranches of around 225 recruits will enter Templemore throughout the rest of 2023, provided for by candidates from the previous campaign and later supplemented by the new recruitment campaign being launched by Minister Harris.
It is anticipated that the first successful candidates from this new campaign will be ready for interview by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) by July.
The Public Appointments Service is increasing its current capacity to allow for the conducting of 400 interviews per month, which will ensure a larger flow of candidates through the later stages of the recruitment process, including assessments by An Garda Síochána.
Almost 500 Garda recruits passed through the college in 2022, between those who attested or started their training.