'Hard decisions' on rosters for Garda bosses amid fears drugs unit numbers could be cut
The new Garda roster is due to come into effect in November. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie
Garda bosses are facing “hard decisions” on how to staff the new Garda roster amid concerns the number of gardaí working in key areas including divisional drugs units and detective units may be significantly reduced.
The country’s divisional officers, the chief superintendents, have to submit their proposals by today for the new roster, which is due to come into effect in November.
Sources say the first priority is to get the frontline regular units staffed, which will mean that many gardaí who are currently allocated or temporarily seconded to other units or task forces will be brought back.
The Garda Representative Association has said there are not enough gardaí to go back to the pre-covid roster, involving 10-hour shifts and five teams, and it wants the current emergency roster of four 12-hour shifts retained.
The likely reduction in the strength of divisional drug units (DDUs) could reverse the recent improvements in staffing resulting from the national anti-drug initiative, Operation Tara, that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris launched in July 2021.
The investment in divisional drug units, which Commissioner Harris directed, during 2020 and 2021, came after a period of crippling cuts in those units, with affected local communities battling open drug dealing and gang intimidation.
An analysis by the of the total strength of DDUs shows:
- It fell from 378 at the close of 2010 to a low of 222 at the end of 2018 — a collapse of over 40%;
- It grew significantly to 306 by the end of 2020 — an increase of 38%;
- Numbers increased over the following years, reaching 332 by March 2023, a jump of almost 50% on 2018 figures, but still some way off the 2010 strength.
“I would have huge concerns if the numbers in the country's drugs units are cut,” said one high-level Garda source.
One local manager said “hard decisions” are having to be made, but that the “first priority” has to be the uniformed frontline.
“Is there enough to run five units?" the source said. "There is, with non-appointed members returning to uniform. D branch and Drugs will have to work with whatever is left.”
Commissioner Harris' decision to operate the pre-covid roster from November 6 was met by a decision by the GRA leadership to ballot their members on a vote of confidence in the commissioner.
