Number of gardaí in drug unit halves

The number of gardaí in the local Divisional Drugs Unit has halved over the last two years.

Figures released by the Minister for Justice show three gardaí were in the unit on September 30. That included one sergeant and two Garda members.

That’s down from six on December 31, 2019, when it was made up of five gardaí and overseen by a sergeant.

Releasing the data to local TD Pauline Tully (SF) Justice Minister and fellow Cavan-Monaghan TD Heather Humphreys said the allocation of gardaí is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.

However, she said she is assured that Garda management “keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use”.

Speaking at the most recent Joint Policing Committee meeting, Cavan Superintendent Pauric Jones said the number of gardaí in drug units fluctuates.

But he said the number of drug seizures over the past year had increased slightly over the previous year, with 52 seizures between September 2020 and September 2021, compared with 48 in the 12 months before.

In Cavan for the launch of the Regional Armed Support Unit last weekend, Commissioner Drew Harris said, while he did not know the specifics of the staffing situation regarding the Divisional Drugs Unit in Cavan-Monaghan, he did say each division has been asked to carry out and provide an audit of needs.

“Every division has been asked and complied with setting up their own divisional drugs units. There are about 300 members in total engaged in divisional drug work, and they've had huge success.”

With focus particularly placed on tackling mid-level and street-level drug dealing, Comm Harris welcomed news from the budget that funding has been provided to recruit a further 800 members next year.

“That will make a real difference in terms of staff in all divisions, including in Cavan and Monaghan in the numbers available, both for [divisional drug detection work] and community policing.”