The Minster for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has announced that 250 more Gardai are to be recruited within six months. The Minister made the announcement at the conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors in County Meath.
The AGSI has been calling on the Government to ensure that the number of garda does not fall below 13,000.
The new recruits will enrol in the Garda College in Templemore in two groups of 125.
The annual AGSI conference yesterday voted unanimously to increase the number of gardaí who are properly trained and qualified to carry firearms.
