One of the Assistant Commissioners is in charge of the Dublin Metropolitan Area, one is based in the Garda College and has responsibility for police training, and the others are based at Headquarters in charge of administrative departments. The ranks of An Garda S och na are, in descending order, Assistant Commissioner, Chief Superintendent, Superintendent, Inspector, Sergeant and Garda. Entry to the force is at the rank of Garda. The force operates in 23 Divisions, each of which is divided into Districts and Sub-Districts. Divisions include regular and special forces for crime detection and prevention.
Divisions also carry out local police administrative functions.
The police training centre is located at Templemore in Co. Tipperary. Garda trainees undergo a comprehensive two year training programme before entering the force. Among developed countries, Ireland has one of the lowest levels of serious crimes of violence while the crime detection rate is comparable to that of other countries. The challenges facing the Garda S och na in recent years have included the effects of social problems posed by rapid urbanisation. At the same time the policing of a circuitous border with Northern Ireland in co-operation with the defence forces has absorbed a considerable amount of the force s resources.