‘Certainty for Templemore’?

The announcement of new investment for the Garda Training College has failed to quell doubts over the future of the Templemore facility.

Amid speculation that the Government is planning to build a new training college near Dublin, Deputy Michael Lowry last week announced confirmation of a “multi-million investment” in the Templemore centre. He said the Office of Public Works would shortly be in a position to invite tenders for enhancing the facilities at the college; it is understood that the total investment figure is not being disclosed until the tendering process is complete.

“This investment provides certainty for Templemore and sends a strong signal of confidence in the role it plays nationally,” Deputy Lowry enthused.

However, while also welcoming news of the investment, Labour TD Alan Kelly last week pointed out that the report from a working group looking at the prospect of another garda college elsewhere in the country is still awaited. The group’s recommendation will not be made known until the middle of this year.

“The fact that the Government still hasn’t ruled out creating new training facilities outside the town is deeply concerning,” Deputy Kelly stated.

‘DECISIVE AND NECESSARY’

Design of new classrooms and training facilities for the Garda Training College in Templemore is now complete. Deputy Lowry described the additional Government funding as “decisive and necessary investment in the future of the college. The Garda Training College is the heartbeat of Templemore and central to the economic activity in the town,” the independent TD stated.

The announcement follows a period during which doubts were expressed about the continuation of the college. But Deputy Lowry stated that during negotiations for the formation of the current Government, he strongly advocated the case for Templemore and it was agreed that the existing college would continue into the future as the primary training centre for An Garda Síochána.

He said the additional funding would address existing capacity challenges, enabling an increase in the number of gardaí trained during each intake cycle. This expansion is particularly important given the exceptional demand to join the force, with more than 11,000 applicants in 2025 alone.

“I am determined to ensure that Templemore training centre develops to meet demand and remains as the focal point for garda training,” Deputy Lowry stated. “I will continue to advocate for the Garda Training College to ensure it remains properly resourced and fit for the demands of modern policing.”

‘DEEPLY CONCERNING’

But Deputy Kelly referenced last year’s cross-government Garda Síochána Recruitment Training Capacity Group Report to the Minister for Justice, which flagged the need for new investment in classrooms and other training facilities to allow for 250 recruits to be trained in each intake. “This is welcome,” he said.

“However, the report also stated that ‘a working group be established to specifically consider the case for a second training college and the role that the tertiary system could play in the delivery of garda training. It is recommended that this working group complete its work by July 2026’.

“This report is not due until the middle of this year, so we have no certainty on whether this Government will move some training away from Templemore. It is deeply concerning that they have not ruled this out,” Deputy Kelly stated.

“I believe any move away from Templemore would be hugely detrimental to the town and the local region. It would, I believe, be the commencement of a slippery slope of moving some garda training away from Templemore. It would also be incredibly stupid to move some training to Dublin, as has been suggested, as the costs associated for trainee gardaí having to live and train in Dublin would surely be prohibitive to generating more recruits.

“The obvious requirement to expand training at Templemore should be done by facilitating the expansion of the college in the Templemore area. An Garda Síochána bought land at Clonmore in 2006 and it hasn’t been developed as it should be to facilitate the growing training requirements of the force where increased recruitment is an absolute necessity. That is the solution to this issue where training can continue in potential areas like driving, firearms, etc.

“I’m calling on the Government to bring certainty to the future of all garda training remaining in the Templemore area and to do so immediately,” Deputy Kelly said.