Gardaí will 'hold off' on reorganising border divisions as part of its new policing plan until the situation around Brexit becomes clear, according to the Garda Commissioner.
Drew Harris has been discussing reforms and other issues in front of the Oireachtas Justice Committee this morning.
He says recent changes to the operating and structural models will release 1,000 members for frontline duties.
Commissioner Harris also insisted the force is ready for a potential hard Brexit.
He said the force won't proceed with planned structural reorganisation of border divisions "until we get to some sort of certainty around what the Brexit position is likely to be".
He noted that Brexit is likely to cause some issues - such as EU treaties dealing with organised crime issues 'falling away' for the UK when it leaves the bloc.
The Garda Commissioner suggested: "We'll have to fall back on a far more complex process rather than a European Arrest Warrant [for the UK]".
However, he told the committee: "We are ready. We have been in effect thinking about this for two years, and building up resources around the border area during that time.
"We've built up resources in terms of our Armed Support Unit. At the moment, we have about 30 further members who are trained and ready.
"We are now looking towards the introduction of an Armed Support Unit in Cavan to introduce response times in border areas as well."
He added: "We're also looking to our national units: we have to think about our Economic Crime Bureau, and if we need to put further resources towards the confiscation of assets.
"There's been a big uplift in our capability, and there's more to come - a lot of that is just in terms of the overall policing of Ireland, but we're also very aware of the challenges Brexit may bring as well."
Commissioner Harris said the force is looking at Brexit in three elements - in terms of organised crime, the threat from dissident republicans, and also the impact it has on local communities.
He also stressed that the force is working closely with the PSNI ahead of the UK's exit from the EU.
