Sixteen new Gardai to be stationed in North West region

Sixteen new Gardai, including 11 trainees, will be stationed in the North West.

On Friday, 126 Gardaí were attested as sworn members of An Garda Síochána in Templemore.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana was unable to clarify the precise portion of the 16 that will be stationed in County Donegal

The new recruits include 91 male and 35 female with two members former Reserve Gardai.

The newly attested members were recruited as part of the 2022 recruitment campaign and began their Garda training in February.

They will now take on operational responsibilities.

"Being a Garda is an honourable profession,” said Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

“Those who are given this great responsibility by the people of this country must in turn behave honourably. And those who do not must be called out.

“Never forget who we serve. Remember the solemn oath you have sworn. As Gardaí our duty is plain and simple, it is to serve the people of Ireland.”

It was recently confirmed that Donegal will remain a stand-alone Division with senior officials in the force shelving plans to merge with Sligo and Leitrim.

A meeting of the Donegal Joint Policing Committee heard last month that the total number of Gardai and staff now in the Donegal Division is at 524, including 460 Garda members and 64 staff.

There are 36 detectives in Donegal as well as five detective sergeants, as well as one sergeant and eight Gardai in the divisional protective services unit (DPSU), which is tasked with the investigation of specialised crime, including sexual crime, child abuse, domestic abuse and online child exploitation.

A full-time drugs unit is also being planned fro the Donegal Division.