Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has announced that garda recruitment will recommence next year.
Mr Shatter was speaking at a graduation for Garda Reservists at the Garda College in Templemore.
He said that he would not put a figure on the number of gardaí to be recruited because this was the start of the process.
The minister also said that over 27,000 people had expressed an interest in joining the gardaí and said that advertisements would be put in newspapers.
He said he was anxious that the strength of the force does not drop below 13,000.
