Garda cash in with €1.6bn as bid to fight crime intensifies

MORE than €100 million is to be spent on creating a “hi-tech” police force under Budget 2008.

The fund is part of a total Garda budget of more than €1.6bn, which Justice Minister Brian Lenihan said will bring force numbers to 15,000 and fund anti-gangland operations.

Fine Gael accused Mr Lenihan of doctoring the garda figures, stating that Finance Minister Brian Cowen’s budget catered for 14,200 gardaí by the end of 2008.