Thousands apply for highly coveted Garda Trainee Recruitment Competition

An astonishing 6,784 people have applied to be a Garda in the Garda Trainee Recruitment Competition.

This latest Garda recruitment competition, which was operated by publicjobs on behalf of An Garda Síochána, closed last Thursday, February 27. The campaign promoting the entry was live on television, in national and local print, as well as being featured online and across social media, on radios, in the outdoors, and in cinemas for three weeks.

32% of applicants are female, 42% of applicants are aged 30 and over, and 23% of those who stated their background are not white Irish.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said, "We are really pleased with the level of interest in joining An Garda Síochána, particularly in the current market. Applicants are from a diverse range of backgrounds and this will ultimately ensure An Garda Síochána represents the population it is serving.

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"An Garda Síochána is a very rewarding career and the number of applications confirms what we’ve been saying throughout the campaign – it’s a job worth doing. We are looking forward to welcoming our new Garda Trainees on board and supporting them in their career to keep people safe," he concluded. 

Applicants will now enter into a competitive selection process involving a number of stages. Stage 1 is comprised of online verbal and numerical reasoning tests, an assessment questionnaire and written exercise. Stage 2 is a competency-based interview and Stage 3 is comprised of eligibility checks including the fitness test, medical and substance misuse (controlled drug) testing and vetting.

It is expected that the first of those from this competition who make it through the selection process, will begin in the Garda College in Templemore at the end of the year.