Garda Commissioner flags policing and budgetary pressures

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris highlighted 'a number of budgetary pressures' the organisation was under. 

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the force is pressed to provide an adequate policing response to migration-related issues, the threat posed by highly-dangerous synthetic opioid drugs, and rising deaths on Irish roads.

The police chief said the organisation is under budgetary pressure as a result of unplanned demand for policing services — and the resulting overtime costs — as well as the money needed to provide training to members and pay for the costs of having gardaí do court work.