An additional 140 civilian staff are to be recruited by An Garda Síochána as part of a plan to put more uniformed gardaí on the streets
The plan was announced today at the Garda College in Templemore at the graduation of 152 gardaí.
The new civilian staff are to be recruited in the summer and are expected to release at least 50 uniformed gardaí from desk jobs
Deputy Commissioner John Twomey said the Garda is still liaising with the Inspectorate in relation to its contention that 1,000 gardaí could be replaced by civilians to patrol the streets.
The force announced the plan to double the number of civilians in the force by 2,000 to 4,000 in the next four years and plan is to increase the strength of the entire police service to 15,000.
Chief administrative officer Joe Nugent said the initial group of 140 civilians would be followed by another 360 by the end of the year and this would mean fully trained gardaí would be transferred from desk jobs back to policing duties.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Twomey said every part of the country would benefit from the additional intake of trained gardaí and civilian staff.
