Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has announced the recruitment of 250 new gardaí ahead of her address to the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) conference in Trim, Co Meath today.

“I can confirm that the next two rounds will see increased intakes of 125 new recruits,” the minister said.

She added that the increase demonstrated the “determination of Government to delivering an effective, responsive police service.”

The additional recruitment will bring to 550 the number of Gardaí that have been recruited between September 2014 and 2015.

The news that new recruits will enrol in the Garda College in Templemore comes after the AGSI called on Government to stop the strength of the force falling.

The conference heard on Tuesday that alleged harassment in person and social media of gardaí over policing of water protests was being investigated.

Names and addresses of some Garda members have been published on social media and other websites and some officers, as well as members of the public, have allegedly been harassed in person.

Meanwhile, the pace of Garda reform under Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan was strongly criticised as “slow” by the AGSI.

The AGSI said that, despite promises to the contrary, changes to policing remain chaotic and are marked by a lack of consultation with, and clear direction to, Garda members.