The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has said the number of gardaí and recruits now stands at a record high of more than 14,000.
Mr McDowell was in Templemore, Co Tipperary, where, for the first time, a Minister for Justice was present to welcome new recruits.
280 men and women began training as gardaí today.
On RTÉ Radio, Mr McDowell rejected criticism from Fine Gael which accused him of massaging the figures.
He said he has delivered on the programme for Government commitment on garda numbers.
But Fine Gael Justice Spokesman Jim O’Keeffe said it was ridiculous for Mr McDowell to claim trainees as members of the force.
Mr O'Keeffe said the Government had thus far only delivered 38% of their promised 2,000 extra gardaí.
