Shatter hits out at troika demands to cut 1,000 gardaí

DEMANDS by the troika to slash garda numbers by 1,000 this year are putting major strains on the nation’s law and order budgets, Justice Minister Alan Shatter admitted.

With the foreign officials now overseeing Ireland’s finances back in Dublin tomorrow, Mr Shatter’s comments were being seen as a plea for a better deal.

“The previous government signed up to reduce gardaí numbers from 14,500 to 13,500 but there were never any arrangements put in place to effect that reduction, and that of course, is making it difficult for the Department of Justice to meet its obligations with regard to expenditure,” he said.