Today saw the first group of Irish language recruits from the Garda Training College in Templemore.
This was due to enhanced co-operation between the office of An Coimisinéir Teanga and garda authorities.
It followed complaints to the commissioner in 2010 about the lack of gardaí in Gaeltacht areas and especially those who were unable to conduct their business with the public through Irish.
The commissioner at that time investigated one specific complaint in relation to the garda station in the official Gaeltacht area of An Bun Beag, Co Donegal.
After consultations between the commissioner's office and garda authorities, it was decided to recruit gardaí with competence in Irish, in accordance with the Garda Act 2005, and to locate them in Gaeltacht areas.
It was decided that 10% of recruits would be Irish speakers.
Around 1,000 people applied to the garda training course in Irish last December and January and the first group began today.
They will complete the same course as English language recruits, but also do an examination through Irish.
