S.I. No. 196/2026 - Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 12th May, 2026.

I, JIM O’CALLAGHAN, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 252 , 254 and 261 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (No. 1 of 2024) (as adapted by the Justice (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2025 ( S.I. No. 242 of 2025 ), having consulted with the Garda Commissioner and the Authority and with the approval of Government, hereby make the following regulations:

1. (1) These regulations may be cited as the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

(2) These Regulations shall come into operation on 18 May 2026.

2. In these Regulations, “Regulations of 2013” means the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 ( S.I. No. 470 of 2013 ).

3. Regulation 3 of the Regulations of 2013 is amended by the insertion of the following definitions:

“‘Act of 2024’ means the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (No. 1 of 2024);

‘Conduct Regulations’ means the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (Section 257) (Conduct) Regulations 2025 ( S.I. No. 115 of 2025 );

‘incident of concern’ has the same meaning as it has in Part 6 of the Act of 2024;

‘Performance Regulations’ means the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (Section 256) (Performance) Regulations 2025 ( S.I. No 118 of 2025 );”.

4. Regulation 12 of the Regulations of 2013 is amended —

(a) in paragraph (3)(a), by the substitution of “the Regulations of 2007, the Act of 2024, regulations made under that Act, or otherwise” for “the Regulations of 2007 or otherwise”,

(b) in paragraph (5) —

(i) in subparagraph (b), by the substitution of “Garda Síochána Acts 2005 to 2022,” for “Garda Síochána Acts 2005 to 2007, or”, and

(ii) by the insertion of the following subparagraphs after subparagraph (c):

“(d) there is an allegation of misconduct (within the meaning of section 257(8) of the Act of 2024) in relation to the probationer that is being considered under the Conduct Regulations,

(e) the performance or attendance of the probationer is being considered under the Performance Regulations,

(f) a complaint has been made against the probationer under section 196 of the Act of 2024,

(g) the probationer is the subject of a notification to the Police Ombudsman of an incident of concern under section 204 of the Act of 2024, or

(h) the probationer is the subject of an investigation under section 205 of the Act of 2024,”,

(c) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (6):

“(6) Where a direction is given under paragraph (4) or (5) in respect of a probationer —

(a) in the case of the first such direction given, the period of extension specified in the direction shall commence on the date of the expiration of the 2 year probationary period of the probationer, and

(b) in the case of the second and each subsequent such direction, the period of extension specified in the direction shall commence on the date of the expiration of the period of extension specified in the immediately preceding direction.”,

(d) by the insertion of the following paragraphs after paragraph (6):

“(6A) Subject to paragraphs (10) and (11), where the probationary period of a probationer has been extended by reason of a direction given under paragraph (4) or (5), the probationary period shall end on the applicable date, in accordance with paragraph (6B).

(6B) Subject to paragraphs (6C), (6D) and (6E), in this Regulation, ”applicable date“ means —

(a) in relation to a direction under paragraph (4), the date of the expiration of the period of extension specified in the direction, and

(b) in relation to a direction under paragraph (5) —

(i) given in the circumstances referred to in subparagraph (a) of that paragraph, the date that is 28 days from the date of the conclusion of any investigation, inquiry or appeal, as the case may be, under the Regulations of 2007 or of the breach of discipline being otherwise dealt with under those Regulations,

(ii) given in the circumstances referred to in subparagraph (b) of that paragraph, the date that is 28 days from the date any investigation or appeal, as the case may be, under the Garda Síochána Acts 2005 to 2022 is concluded or the complaint is otherwise dealt with under that Act,

(iii) given in the circumstances referred to in subparagraph (c) of that paragraph, the date that is 28 days from the date on which the criminal investigation concerned is concluded or, where proceedings for an offence are pending, the date on which such investigation or such proceedings and any appeals or proceedings connected therewith, as appropriate, is or are concluded,

(iv) given in the circumstances referred to in subparagraph (d) of that paragraph, the date that is 28 days from the date on which the proceedings under the Conduct Regulations in relation to the alleged misconduct concerned are concluded,

(v) given in the circumstances referred to in subparagraph (e) of that paragraph, the date that is 28 days from the date on which the consideration of the performance or attendance, as the case may be, of the probationer under the Performance Regulations is concluded, or

(vi) given in the circumstances referred to in subparagraph (f), (g) or (h) of that paragraph, the date that is 28 days from the date on which consideration of the complaint, notification or investigation concerned is concluded under the Act of 2024.

(6C) Where more than one direction under paragraph (4) is given in respect of a probationer, the applicable date for the purposes of paragraph (6A) shall be the date of the expiration of the period of extension specified in the last direction so given.

(6D) Where —

(a) more than one direction under paragraph (5) is given in respect of a probationer, the applicable date for the purposes of paragraph (6A) shall be the latest of the applicable dates under paragraph (6B) (and, where applicable, subparagraph (b)) in respect of the directions, and

(b) the circumstances specified in more than one of the subparagraphs of paragraph (5) apply in the giving of a direction under that paragraph, the applicable date for the purposes of paragraph (6A) in respect of the direction shall be the latest of the applicable dates under paragraph (6B) in respect of such circumstances.

(6E) Where one or more than one direction has been given under each of paragraphs (4) and (5) in respect of a probationer, the applicable date for the purposes of paragraph (6A) shall be the latest of the applicable dates under paragraph (6B) in respect of such directions.”,

(e) in paragraph (7),

(i) by the substitution of “subparagraph (a), (b), (c), (d), (f), (g) or (h) of paragraph (5)” for “paragraph (5)”,

(ii) in subparagraph (b), by the substitution of “if upheld,” for “if upheld, or”,

(iii) by the insertion of the following subparagraphs after subparagraph (c):

“(d) in a case to which subparagraph (5)(d) applies, the allegation of misconduct, if proven,

(e) in a case to which subparagraph (5)(f) applies, the complaint, if upheld,

(f) in a case to which subparagraph (5)(g) applies, the matters giving rise to the notification, if proven, or

(g) in a case to which subparagraph (5)(h) applies, the matters under investigation, if proven,”, and

(f) in paragraph (8), by the substitution of the following subparagraph for subparagraph (b):

“(b) The application of subparagraph (a) shall not be affected by —

(i) the Regulations of 2007,

(ii) the Conduct Regulations, or

(iii) the Performance Regulations.”.

The Government hereby approve the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Government,

6 May, 2026.

MICHEÁL MARTIN,

Taoiseach.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

6 May, 2026.

JIM O’CALLAGHAN,

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.