Foreign nationals have responded to changes to the entry requirements to the Garda - aimed at increasing its ethnic profile - by applying in their hundreds.
In total, over 8,500 applications were received for entry to the Garda. Of these, some 900 were foreign nationals.
Overwhelmingly, nearly 700 of the applications were from the Chinese community. The remaining foreign entries included Poland, eastern European countries, other Asian countries such as India and Pakistan, and African countries.
However, one source advised these were preliminary applications and the figures should be treated with caution. Now they had to see how many applicants went through other stages of testing, came for interviews and met residency requirements.
The closing date for the first phase of recruitment was October 19th. Today, the next phase will begin - testing.
At the beginning of last month, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell and senior gardaí urged members of ethnic minorities to apply to join the force.
This followed changes to entry criteria whereby applicants no longer have to hold a qualification in Irish.
Instead, they must prove they are competent in two languages, at least one of which must be English or Irish. Applicants must also have been resident in the State for five years or more.
The Minister told a gathering of minority groups that it was vital the force reflected the community it served.
Assistant Commissioner Catherine Clancy said at the meeting that the Garda wanted to get the best possible recruits and hoped members of ethnic communities would form part of the new intake of successful applicants.
The Garda is to recruit 2,000 gardaí over the coming years, with more than 10,000 applicants expected in the first wave of recruits.