FOUR hundred recruits will be admitted to the Garda training college over the next 16 months, the Minister for Justice Mrs Owen, has said.
The intake, in groups of 70 or more, will bring the force back to the strength it has fallen from in the past two years as retirements out paced recruitment.
The Border operation to stop BSE infected cattle being smuggled into the State and the additional policing for the EU Presidency have placed major pressure on Garda resources, senior gardai have said.
The Garda Federation called on the Government to give greater budgetary independence to the Garda, so Garda management can decide which operations require priority spending.
The federation spokesman, Mr Chris Finnegan, said the Garda should be given financial autonomy in operations against organised criminals.