Five new probationer Gardai to be assigned to Meath
Five new probationer gardai who were among 193 new gardai to attest today at a ceremony the Garda College in Templemore are on their way to Meath.
Three probationer gardai are being assigned to Meath South, based in Ashbourne Garda Station, while two more are being assigned to Meath North based at Navan Garda Station.
Meath East TD Minister Thomas Byrne says today’s allocation of five probationer Gardaí will make a real difference for the people of County Meath.
He said: “I’m delighted to see five new gardai allocations to County Meath, with three in Ashbourne and two in Navan.
“These new Gardaí will make a real difference for the people of County Meath. They will strengthen the existing Garda presence in our community and give local Gardaí the resources they need to respond quickly and effectively.”
Minister Byrne added that the allocation represents another positive step in delivering safer communities and greater peace of mind for families.
“The work of gardaí in County Meath is vital to keeping people safe, and these new allocation figures will help ensure they are properly supported. Continued investment in Garda resources and personnel is essential so that they can meet the operational demands placed on them and deliver effective policing on the ground.”
The announcement comes as part of the attestation of 193 new Gardaí at a ceremony in the Garda College in Templemore today.
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan welcomed the attestation of the 193 new Gardaí- 134 men and 59 women.
The new probationer Gardaí will be assigned to Garda Divisions across the country by the Garda Commissioner with 141 probationer Gardaí to be deployed across the Dublin Metropolitan Region, 14 to the Southern Region, 27 to the Eastern Region and 11 to the North-Western Region.
A new class of over 200 trainees will enter the Garda College in Templemore to begin training on 4th May. Recruit classes continue to enter the Garda College every 11 - 12 weeks.
Speaking at the attestation ceremony, Minister O’Callaghan said: “I want to congratulate the 193 Gardaí attesting from Templemore today. This is the second graduation class this year. Today’s class of new Gardai builds on the numbers that are now regularly graduating from the Garda college which reflects the government’s commitment to continuous recruitment.
“We are focused on increasing the number of Gardaí to ensure the safety and security of our communities. Recruitment is progressing at a strong pace, and I look forward to seeing the numbers of An Garda Síochána continue to grow.
“The newly attested Gardaí will take up positions in communities across the country and many of them will play an important role in high visibility policing. The high-visibility foot patrols are having an impact and making our communities safer. The recent downward trend in crime figures reflects this.
“Today’s newly attested gardai will now begin a career of service to their communities, and to the people of Ireland. They join a tradition that stretches back over a century, one built on trust, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to the public they serve.
“I am also very pleased to confirm that a new recruitment competition for An Garda Síochána will be launched shortly and again I expect that there will be a strong interest in this competition.”
As of today, An Gardai Siochana has 14,661 sworn Gardaí, 3,664 Garda staff, 300 Garda Reserves and 632 Garda trainees.
The 193 newly attested Gardaí bring to nearly 2,000 the number of Probationer Gardaí attested since recruitment recommenced in 2022.