Garda reservists are to be given the same passing-out ceremony as full-time members of the force at the Garda college in Templemore, Co Tipperary.
The first ceremony for reservists will be held on the parade ground at the college next month.
The move is likely to displease full-time gardaí whose staff associations are vehemently opposed to the reserve force.
Many full-time members believe their positions will be undermined when voluntary part-time workers begin performing some of their duties.
The move to give reservists a full graduation ceremony is likely to heighten these concerns.
Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy and Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell will officiate at the event.
In keeping with the tradition around passing-out ceremonies, the families and friends of reserve graduates will be invited for the day and will be entertained by the Garda Band.
The first group of 37 reserve trainees started phase one training in Templemore on September 30th.
They are now in phase two of their training, and are expected to have completed the full programme next month.
Some may even be patrolling the streets over Christmas when the annual road-safety campaign puts pressure on staffing.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) and Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) have already expressed doubts about the safety of their members working alongside what they believed will be poorly-trained reservists.
The GRA and AGSI are both insisting their members will not co-operate with the reservists. The effectiveness of this policy will only be tested when the first group of part-time members take up their postings.
New figures from the Department of Justice also reveal the reserve recruitment drive is attracting interest from all across the country.
A county by county breakdown of the first 6,661 applicants shows applications have been received from all 26 counties.
There have also been 37 applications from those based in Northern Ireland.
The most represented county is Dublin with 1,922 people having applied by September 19th. This was almost three times more than the 673 applications received from Cork. Galway was third with 343 applicants.
Since September 19th, a further 439 applications have been received, bringing total applications to 7,100. However, a county by county breakdown for the latest 439 was not available.
The next reservist recruitment interviews will be carried out this month and will involve applicants from counties Limerick, Kerry, Galway, Clare, Sligo and Dublin.
The recruitment campaign for the reserve forces is open-ended. It is envisaged that the first 900 reserve force places will be filled early next year. The full strength figure has not been decided on but a force of up to 4,000 has been mooted.
GARDA RESERVE: where applicants come from
Dublin 1,922
Cork 673
Galway 343
Kildare 332
Meath 328
Limerick 239
Louth 226
Mayo 217
Tipperary 190
Clare 189
Kerry 186
Donegal 185
Westmeath 165
Wexford 160
Wicklow 154
Waterford 148
Kilkenny 124
Laois 123
Offaly 122
Roscommon 119
Sligo 116
Carlow 104
Cavan 85
Longford 67
Monaghan 60
Leitrim 43
Northern Ireland 37
Other 4
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TOTAL 6,661
