Five hundred gardai are to be recruited to bring the strength of the force up to 11,500, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform announced yesterday. Mr O'Donoghue said the new posts would be advertised within the next few weeks. The first group of recruits is expected to enter the Templemore training college early next year.
Mr O'Donoghue said the Government wanted to bring the strength of the force to a record 12,000. The earlier decisions to recruit 550 gardai in both 1998 and 1999 and now the announcement of a further 500 meant it was on course to meet the target.