250 new gardai are to be recruited this year, bringing to 550 the number of new recruits since September.
The announcement comes as the numbers in the force have fallen to their lowest level in recent years.
But gardai say it will do little to alleviate the chronic shortage of gardai on the front line.
Juliette Gash reports;
Frances Fitzgerald made the announcement at the AGSI annual conference in Trim, Co. Meath earlier.
While the Minister got a warm welcome from delegates, President Tim Galvin said the recruits, while welcome
