More than 11,000 people have submitted applications to join An Garda Síochána so far this year.
The most recent recruitment drive, which concluded on 9th October 2025, received a total of 4,334 applicants, reports Breaking News.
This follows an earlier recruitment round held in February 2025, during which over 6,784 people applied.
Among those who applied most recently, 57 per cent were first-time applicants, reports Breaking News.
There was sustained strong interest from individuals aged over 30 in the September/October campaign, with 40 per cent falling into this age group.
In comparison, the February competition saw 42 per cent of applicants in this category, reports Breaking News.
Women made up 32 per cent of the applicants, while the current representation of women within An Garda Síochána stands at 30 per cent.
A total of 70 per cent of applicants identified as “white Irish”.
In 2019, 88 per cent of those applying to join the force identified as “white Irish”, reports Breaking News.
This year, 23 per cent of all applications came from those identifying with ethnic backgrounds other than “white Irish”.
Of those applicants, five per cent were “Asian”, two per cent were “black”, 13 per cent were described as any other white background besides white Irish, and three per cent identified as mixed race, reports Breaking News.
The competency-based interview stage is expected to begin in late November.
Applicants who pass the selection process will then be sent to An Garda Síochána to complete the remaining appointment steps, which include a physical test, medical assessment, and substance misuse screening, reports Breaking News.
Garda vetting also commences during this part of the process.
It is expected that some candidates who are successful in this recruitment round will begin training at the Garda College in 2026, reports Breaking News.
Meanwhile, several individuals who were successful in the February 2025 recruitment drive are currently training at the Garda College.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said: “This number of applicants so soon after our last competition in February demonstrates there is a lot of interest in making a difference to communities by becoming a Garda. We can offer a varied career where no day is the same. It is not an easy job, but it is a job worth doing. This level of applications will give us a strong pipeline of Garda Trainees as we seek to further grow the number of Gardaí this year and in the coming years,” reports Breaking News.
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