Drug squad in Galway is reduced by a quarter

The strength of the Garda drug squad in Galway has reduced by a quarter in two years, new official figures confirm.

The Galway Garda Division Drugs Unit had eight people working in it this year, compared with 12 in 2015.

That represents a reduction of 25% in personnel in the divisional drugs unit locally.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan confirmed the numbers during question time in Dáil Éireann.

He outlined how the strength of the division – which has been responsible for some high-profile drugs busts in recent months and years – has fluctuated in the past five years.

In 2012, there were 11 Gardaí in the divisional drugs unit in Galway. That increased by one to 12 in 2013 but fell again to just eight in 2014.

In 2015, Galway had 12 Gardaí working in the drugs unit, and that fell to nine last year. Currently, according to Minister Flanagan, there are just eight personnel in the divisional drugs unit in Galway.

Minister Flanagan said the Government is committed to ensuring a “strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime.”

He added: “To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.

“This plan is progressing apace. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner, since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, that almost 1,200 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide.

“I am also informed that a further four hundred Garda recruits are scheduled to attest later this year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to around the 13,500 mark by year end – an increase of 500 since the end of 2016.”