Minister For Justice Attends Graduation Ceremony For 169 New Members Of An Garda Síochána In Templemore
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has congratulated the 169 new members of the Garda Síochána who graduated into the service from Templemore Garda College today. These newly graduated members will be sent to various stations across the country strengthening the number of Garda Síochána working nationwide to 14,000.
The new graduates have been assigned to posts as follows:
| Assignment Area | Number of Garda Síochána |
| Dublin Metropolitan Region | 96 |
| Eastern Region | 31 |
| Southern Region | 18 |
| North-western Region | 24 |
| Total: 169 |
Speaking at the graduation ceremony today Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said:
“For over 100 years, the people of Ireland have looked to gardaí to keep them safe, to make them feel secure and to support them in their most difficult moments.
“Gardaí are serving the most vulnerable among us every day and combatting the criminals who seek to divide and destroy. I am very proud of the community gardaí, the crime prevention officers, those on the frontline who have to break the worst news to families with empathy and compassion, all those who do the hard yards in serving our people all around the country and it’s great to see so many new gardaí joining the ranks today.
“We will take every necessary action to boost Garda recruitment. I have increased the maximum age entry from 35 to 50, doubled the Garda training allowance and increased the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 62. I have also ensured that new regulations were in place to allow for a new Garda Reserve competition, with 1,800 people applying to join. Nothing is off the table when it comes to supporting Garda recruitment.”
