An Garda Síochána Attests 206 New Members in Largest Class Since Pandemic

On July 24, 2026, An Garda Síochána attested 206 new sworn members from Intake 254 during a graduation ceremony in Templemore. This represents the largest single attestation class in seven years and the largest since before the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing the total force to 14,733 members. The class consists of 142 men and 64 women, including 24 members born in 15 different countries.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan attended the event as the recruits were distributed across four regions. Dublin received the highest allocation with 94 to 95 members, followed by 56 to the Eastern Region, 31 to the North Western Region, and 25 to the Southern Region. Specific allocations include 15 officers for County Meath—split between Ashbourne and Navan—14 for County Louth, seven for Cavan, and six for Tullamore in County Offaly. However, some areas received minimal support; no new officers were allocated to Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, or Leitrim, while the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division received only one officer, stationed in Longford.

Political representatives largely welcomed the deployment as a boost to frontline visibility. Minister Thomas Byrne praised the impact on Meath's expanding communities, while Paula Butterly and Joe O'Reilly noted positive impacts for Louth and Cavan. In Offaly, TD John Clendennen welcomed the six officers for Tullamore but argued that resources in other areas, such as Edenderry, still require expansion to improve community confidence. An additional 404 recruits are currently in training, with another group of over 200 expected to enter the Garda College on July 27, 2026.