Applications for the 2025 Garda recruitment campaign are being taken on the  Public Appointments Service website.

Deadline for applications is: 3pm on Thursday 27th February 2025

The competitive selection process involves a number of stages:

• Application Form
• Stage 1 – Online Aptitude Tests (Verbal & Numerical) & Written Exercise
• Stage 2 – Competency Based Interview
• Stage 3 – Fitness Test

Prepare for all the recruitment stages with the Career Services Garda complete package (currently on special offer): Garda Complete Package

Prepare for the Stage 1 aptitude tests with their Stage 1 preparation course

Garda Trainees, if successful, graduate with a Level 7 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Applied Policing,

Once training is completed, the new Gardaí then start on a salary of €37,311 which rises incrementally with further opportunities for additional allowances and paid overtime.

Why Join An Garda Síochána

An Exceptional Career Decision

Becoming a Garda is more than just a job. Whether you’ve always wanted to be a Garda, looking for a career change, looking to build a meaningful career with a sense of belonging or are driven by a desire to help your community while achieve a fulfilling career An Garda Síochána offers it all.

Find Your Tribe

Belonging is at the heart of a Garda career. Whether you thrive as part of a team, are drawn to the camaraderie of specialist units, or seek a respectful and supportive workplace, you’ll find your tribe within An Garda Síochána. This is a career where every individual contributes uniquely, and introverts and extroverts alike can excel.

Earning Potential

Garda trainees are paid while they train, receiving €345 per week for 32 weeks, with accommodation and meals provided. After 36 weeks, attested Gardaí start at €35,322, rising to €55,592 after eight years, with additional pay for overtime and unsocial hours.

According to Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally during an In The News podcast on 13.09.24, the average earnings for rank-and-file Gardaí are approximately €65,000–€70,000 a year based on CSO figures. Achieving this level of income would involve overtime and allowances for unsociable hours; however, these earnings are undeniably appealing.

CSO figures also show that An Garda Síochána had the highest average weekly earnings and average weekly paid hours in Q2 2024 in the public sector at €1,782.49 and 43.2 hours respectively.

This competitive pay structure, combined with meaningful work, makes a Garda career both financially and personally rewarding.

Opportunities to Progress 

Gardaí can advance into specialist units tackling fraud, forensics, drugs, and gangland crime. After three years of service, opportunities open for specialised roles and promotions, offering a career path rich with growth and challenges.