Garda Reserve Recruitment 2024

Fair play @LittleMissSunshine. Thanks for the info, didn't know all that especially there only been roughly 200 candidates left, suprising!!

All in all that actually sounds fairly positive in fairness.

I did, I did the interview mid 2025 and everything seemed good. When I was leaving I was expecting a call soon enough from the information I got but like many others, radio silence since.

What about yourself, Same scenario?

28th April 2026 - Dáil Éireann Debate

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, provides for the appointment of members of the Garda Reserve. The Reserve is a volunteer service drawn from individuals who seek to give back to their communities, who perform duty alongside full time Garda members, and work to keep people safe.

Reserve Gardaí are a key asset to An Garda Síochána as they provide support during policing operations, enhance ties with local communities, and bring with them a wide range of skills and talents.

While on duty Reserve Gardaí are granted policing powers by the Garda Commissioner. Under the supervision and support of full time Garda members, Reserves help to prevent crimes and to provide greater reassurance to the community.

My priority is to increase the number of Garda Reserves to 1,000 in the short term and once that level of membership is achieved to proceed towards our ultimate target of 2,000. It is my view that Garda Reserves have a huge contribution to make to policing in Ireland and achieving our recruitment targets is my immediate focus.

I hear you on the management side, but the reality in 2026 is that HQ doesn't have the luxury of sitting on their hands. Between the new 2024 Policing Act and the €2.7 billion budget, there’s massive pressure from the Department of Justice to show results.

Management actually just tripled the Reserve stipend to €3k to stop people dropping out, which is a big sign they’re trying to keep the current batch engaged. The 'limbo' isn't a lack of will; it’s likely HR team being drowned by the 11,000 full-time applications they're trying to process at the same time.

Ultimately, we’re the only group that can help hit their 2026 targets, so they’re incentivized to push us through as fast as the Vetting Bureau allows.

Vent away! Honestly, everyone on here completely gets it. It is incredibly draining to see a brand-new campaign launch when you’ve already jumped through all those hoops and are just met with silence.

But if it’s any consolation, you are in a totally different league than the people applying today. You’ve already cleared the hurdles that knock out 80% of candidates

The full-time competition opening today are at the very start of a 24-month mountain. It feels like limbo, but you’ve already done the hard miles

Hang in there—the system is moving at its usual glacial pace. I completely get it, and feel the same frustrations, but remember you’re too far along to let the frustration of the wait cancel out all the work you’ve already put in!

Keep going 👍

same, and I think there’s no channel for experienced reserve to go and join full time I think if they wanted to go full time they’d have to apply from the very start and go about doing the whole lot again! That’s putting me off applying for full time, like LMS said 80% done, we are over the worst of it , but it is quite draining

Regrettably, they have, and with the holiday season approaching, a class will likely start right when some of us have trips booked.

Sometime ago I emailed my local TDs to express my frustration over this fiasco; some acknowledged it and others ignored it, but with no follow-up, I have little hope.

I also emailed the Vetting Team months ago without a reply, and after seeing what another user here received from them, I will just wait and see how things unfold.

I completely agree, there is a nice support network here and it's nice to share experiences.

We do know GNVB process applications in batches, so once these are released to HR, it's likely that the gates will open for many simultaneously

No update or news from me either at this point.

Still in the game so fingers crossed for sime positive developments soon.

Might mean preference given to reserve applications listed for Dublin , with the upcoming European Presidency starting July 1st. Think all events are in Dublin so likely a requirement for Reserves and full time

Could also explain 141/193 recent graduates assigned to Dublin

Agreed Ian, giving up a career isn’t viable for some people

I’d differ on the idea that the timeline doesn't matter. There are still training and personal commitment that require planning. Since the initial application, life changes. Would only be fair that people are kept in the loop so they can manage accordingly

I've no doubt many of the 90% drop-off from the original applicants would have been voluntary retractions. When people are left in the dark for so long, they lose interest or move on to other things

Very true on forum, knowing we're all in the same boat is reassuring. It proves the delay isn't about individuals—it’s a systemic bottleneck affecting everyone. Hopefully, we will all see some progress soon.!

Don't read too much into the silence . We’ve all experienced it, with the focus on full-time campaigns, the Reserves inevitably get pushed down the priority list

Not this Moron again.

Will you crawl back under the rock please..

Anyone who has forgotton this clown check out page 46+47…..

retired mules just cant help themselves…

Thanks for update.

Will you upload email address again please as the more that keep emailing and ringing the better.

Thank you

lads I could be wrong but, I think there’s no point to be hounding them with emails/ phone calls looking for updates, we’re just gonna get the same generic response back, which is disheartening,

it’s just a waiting game really, just put it in the back of your mind and continue to live life, check your email every now and then to see if anything has come in, like ye all im in since 2024 but last august/september I’ve just forget about it really because no point being wound up looking for updates because we all know the the vetting system is a disaster , and priority is for full time people.

Just forget about it, don’t let it consume you and keep doing what your doing, enjoy the summer! keep the faith :)