More than 150 new Garda recruits are to help traffic flow in three major cities in the run-up to Christmas.
Operation Open City will run in Limerick, Cork and Dublin until Christmas Eve.
The operation aims to help deal with the extra traffic expected in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Gardai will be ramping up their visibility on the streets of Dublin, Cork and Limerick to help the flow of public transport and minimise traffic disruption.
The National Transport Authority, Local Authorities and transport providers will assist in the operation which will put a particular focus on traffic management issues around car parks at major shopping areas.
Gardai will be enforcing the operation by ramping up their visibility and enforcement activity in the three cities.
Last week, 197 Gardai graduated from Templemore College.
The 89 Gardaí assigned to the Dublin Region, 32 Gardaí to Cork City and 32 to Limerick City have all been deployed to 'Open City'.
They will support Garda Roads Policing Units and local Garda patrols to help people get about their day's business, and enjoy the seasonal festivities.
