A major Garda recruitment drive has begun, with hundreds of new civilian posts in the force to be filled.
The positions represent the first stage of a Government plan to civilianise as many posts as possible within An Garda Síochána in an effort to free up gardaí for front-line policing duties.
It is anticipated a further 1,000 civilian staff will be recruited in the medium to long term.
A range of new senior managerial positions is on offer as part of the current recruitment process, including directors of strategy, communications and human resources.
Other senior posts to be advertised in the national media in coming weeks will include chief administrative officer, director of information and communications technology and legal adviser.
Among the first posts to be filled will be 300 civilian support staff, at clerical officer grade. These will perform a range of administrative duties at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, and in the Dublin Metropolitan Region headquarters, Harcourt Square.
Other support staff will work at some of the bigger Garda stations in Dublin where uniformed gardaí are being used in increasing numbers to perform administrative duties.
A small number of positions will be offered outside Dublin.
