DUBLIN, Ireland - An Garda Siochana is to improve its structures, processes, services and governance, and increase the number of frontline Gardai.

The restructuring at national, regional and local levels, announced on Thursday, is being implemented to put a greater focus on community policing based on local needs.

It means more Gardai working on the frontline, greater supervision, better resources, less paperwork, and more career opportunities for members and staff. It will make best use of an expanding workforce and investment in ICT.

There will be a reduction in administrative structures, the introduction of community policing teams dedicated to working with communities to identify and tackle problem crimes in their area, a greater range of specialised services such as economic crime and cyber-crime being delivered locally, and enhanced local investigation of serious crimes and crimes against the vulnerable such as sexual crime.

From 2017 to 2019, 2,090 Gardai have been recruited to date and a further 478 have been re-deployed to the frontline. It is expected that from now until end of 2021 that a further 1,500 Garda members will be recruited and an additional 1,000 Gardai re-assigned to the frontline.

In addition, from 2017 to 2019, 1,070 Garda staff have been recruited and a further 1,265 are expected to recruited by the end of 2021.

"These improvements will allow us to increase the number of Gardai at the front-line and enhance community policing. Reduced bureaucracy and ICT initiatives combined with an increase in Garda members and Garda staff will increase Garda visibility in communities. It will mean Gardai at all ranks will have more time to engage with local communities and stakeholders to help keep people safe," Commissioner Drew Harris said Thursday.

"These changes will deliver a more visible, localised and responsive policing service. What won't change though is the strong connection we have with local communities."

Under this model, decision-making for policing delivery will be devolved from the centre to the regions and divisions.

Divisions will increase in size, and will be operationally autonomous.

A Division will be typically made up of around 600 to 800 personnel. This will ensure each Division has the resources and skills to deliver a wider range of community policing and specialist services based on the demand in their area.

Regions and divisions will have greater control over how policing is delivered, while working to a corporate framework and oversight from the centre. The focus of the centre will be on supporting regions and divisions.

The model has been recommended by both the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and the Garda Inspectorate, and echoes the views of Garda personnel gathered through extensive consultation. The restructure reflects international policing best practice as well as the realities of modern-day policing in Ireland, the changing nature of crime, and population trends.

The process has already started as part of the implementation of A Policing Service for the Future with the introduction of the new local policing model in four Divisions Kevin Street, Cork city, Galway and Mayo.

It will continue on Monday with the new regional structure of four regions.

The reduction in Divisions from 28 to 19 will commence on a phased basis. The new structure will be implemented throughout 2020.