Some 265 trainee gardaí will be sworn into the force today at a ceremony in Templemore, the largest class in the training college.
The announcement comes as Minister for Justice Michael McDowell faces increasing criticism from the Opposition and Garda representative associations over his plans to establish a Garda reserve force.
The gardaí inducted today will receive further training at stations across the country before returning to Templemore for graduation in January of 2007.
Mr McDowell called today's ceremony "a complete answer to those who have cynically and opportunistically claimed that the Government's planned expansion of the Force to record levels would not, or could not, take place."
The Programme for Government 2002 - 2007 pledges to "complete the current expansion of An Garda Síochána and increase recruitment so that the numbers will increase by a further 2000."
The swearing in of today's 265 trainees takes force numbers to 12,450. Garda strength stood at 11,895 when the coalition Government came to power.