Largest garda operation in State's history to come into effect as world leaders descend on Dublin

The largest garda operation in the history of the Irish State will see 15,000 gardaí deployed on 12-hour shifts as visiting political dignitaries flock to Dublin on Thursday and Friday of this week.

The largest garda operation in the history of the Irish State will see 15,000 gardaí deployed on 12-hour shifts as visiting political dignitaries flock to Dublin on Thursday and Friday of this week.

The enormous deployment will see close to the full garda complement of 14,000 officers seeing operational time ahead of the biggest security operation in the country's history ahead of the arrival of roughly 50 heads of State for both Thursday's meeting and an informal meeting for the gathered leaders on Friday.

The political event is the centrepiece of Ireland's six-month presidency of the EU and has seen logistical and security plans put in place many months in advance.

Over 100 advanced escort trained garda motorcyclists and more than 200 motorcycle security escorts will operate in the capital alongside 500 public order gardaí on each date ahead of the meeting of the European Political Community in the capital on Thursday.

A further 500-plus armed gardaí and trained close protection officers will be deployed on both the Thursday and the Friday, November 12 and 13. 

Gardaí said that an 'Extraordinary Event' has been declared from Tuesday through Saturday to bookend the massive political occasion.

More than 35,000 hot meals will be provided to garda personnel across nine catering locations for the duration of the operation.

Despite the mass deployment of personnel, gardaí said there will be no reduction in day-to-day policing services.