Garda drug units across the country have seen their numbers slashed by 30% in the last four years, figures reveal.
Many local units are forced to operate with a handful of members, with Cork West struggling with three; Wexford axed to just one; and Cavan/Monaghan’s unit abolished altogether.
Drug squads in divisions afflicted by organised crime — including Dublin North, Dublin South, and Limerick — have, on average, had their strength almost halved in recent years.
Garda sources point out that in many cases, drug squad gardaí are performing other detective duties — such as tackling burglaries — because of dire shortages in local detective units.
It comes as separate statistics show that the overall strength of the force has reached 12,799 — including 200 gardaí on career breaks.
This brings the effective strength to 12,599 — which is 400 below the 13,000 minimum previously set by Garda headquarters. About 300 recruits will come on stream in batches of 100 throughout this year.
The figures were revealed as Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan announced two “super” Garda units: One to tackle organised crime and a second to tackle child, domestic, and sexual violence and human trafficking.
Figures supplied by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher show the strength of the country’s 29 divisional drug units fell by 30% in the last four years, from 361 in 2011 to 253 in 2014.
Source: Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner, 02/03/15
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