Deputy Commissioner, An Garda Síochána

Deputy Commissioner, An Garda Síochána

Job Summary:

The role of Deputy Commissioner is one of the most senior positions in the Garda Síochána. The Commissioner, two Deputy Commissioners and the Chief Corporate Officer form the Executive, the top level management of the organisation, which is responsible for setting the organisational strategy and overseeing governance and accountability throughout the Garda Síochána. A Deputy Commissioner is required to perform the functions of the Garda Commissioner in his absence.

The role of the Deputy Commissioner is to support the Garda Commissioner in leading the Garda Síochána. The Deputy Commissioner assists the Garda Commissioner in creating and modelling a strategic vision, direction and culture for the organisation, to build trust and public confidence, in addition to delivering an efficient and effective policing service.

The Deputy Commissioner is responsible for the implementation of the organisation’s Statement of Strategy and annual Policing Plan, providing strategic oversight, governance and accountability for the day to day running of the Garda Síochána and the provision of a professional, effective and efficient policing and security service which enhances community safety.

Main Duties of the Job:

The successful candidate will:

Actively support the Garda Commissioner in leading the Garda Síochána organisation, communicating a clear direction, ensuring required cultural shifts, setting an example and expectations in relation to integrity, values, ethics, high standards of professional conduct and respect for human rights and diversity to enable an effective and professional policing and security service;

Provide strategic direction on identifying and managing threat, risk and harm and developing organisational and policing and security strategies and responses;

Take a leading role in the setting of policing plans to deliver an effective, efficient, visible and responsive policing and security service, in an independent and impartial manner, that respects human rights and diversity, is victim focused and supports the proper and effective administration of justice;

Work collaboratively across government, statutory agencies and community partners to design and deliver initiatives that enhance community safety and reduce harm;

Set, and ensure high standards of behavior, performance and delivery in relation to policing and security priorities, based on defined performance indicators in the annual policing plan;

Drive good governance in the management of and compliance with statutory and other requirements for policing in line with best practice and with regard to human rights;

Take a leading role in the provision of a policing and security service that is representative and that recognises, reflects and effectively serves an increasingly diverse society;

For a full list of duties and essential requirements please see the competition information booklet.

Information About the Organisation:

An Garda Síochána is a largely unarmed, community-based policing and security service comprising more than 18,000 employees with over 14,460 Gardaí (sworn officers), 3,600 Garda staff (civilian) and approximately 300 Garda Reserves working in four regions across the State and in a number of national, regional, specialist and administrative units.

The 2026 budget for An Garda Síochána is over €2.7 billion.

The Garda mission is “Keeping People Safe” and its statutory functions are set out in Section 9 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, i.e. to provide policing and security services for the state with the objective of:

Preserving peace and public order;

Protecting life and property;

Vindicating the human rights of each individual;

Protecting the security of the State;

Preventing crime;

Preventing harm to individuals, in particular those who are vulnerable or at risk;

Bringing criminals to justice, including by detecting and investigating crime;

Protecting and supporting victims of crime; and

Regulating and controlling road traffic and improving road safety.

Benefits:

See Information Booklet.

Selection Process Details:

Further details on this significant opportunity are available on our website via the button below.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 3pm on Thursday, 10th of September 2026.

If you feel you would benefit from a confidential discussion about this role, please contact Ms. Niamh McGuinness at niamh.mcguinness@publicjobs.ie

We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.