Seventy six (76) Garda trainees were rejected after first being admitted to the Garda College in the last 12 months.
It comes following a change to the rules, which allowed applicants to be admitted into the Garda College in Templemore, Co. Tipperary, while their vetting was still not fully complete.
A Garda statement has affirmed, quote:
“An Garda Síochána have advised that 76 Garda Trainee applicants were deemed unsuccessful in the past year for the following reasons:- Vetting, Medical, Physical Competence Test and Drug tests.”
The system was initially changed in response to efforts to boost Garda numbers, which saw 2024 applicants admitted, while their vetting was still incomplete.
Some 201 trainees entered the Garda College in Templemore on Monday, March 10th, 2025, the highest number since 2019. This intake followed the attestation of 149 new probationer Gardaí at a ceremony in Templemore, on Friday March 7th last.
Speaking after An Garda Síochána attestations on March 7th last, the Minister for Justice Mr Jim O’Callaghan stated that the Government was fully committed to strengthening An Garda Síochána by 5,000 members over the next five years.
Garda Press Office statement corrected.
The Garda Press Office have since issued a statement this evening, July 7th 2025, which states that due to their oversight, the previous response given in relation to a recent query was factually incorrect. The corrected statement now declares that 57 trainees failed to graduate, since January 2024 and that none of these were for reasons which related to the post-admission vetting of candidates.
Leave a Reply