A senior member of the Clare Garda Division says the jump in the number of drugs detections in the county in recent months, is a direct result of increased staffing levels in the local Drugs Unit.
It comes as new Dáil figures have shown there are now just three full-time members on the county’s drugs unit, which is down from 5 in 2017.
There were 4 in 2018, at a time when a commitment was made to double the unit to 8.
Only the Kilkenny/Carlow Division has fewer Gardaí in its drugs unit, while Laois/Offaly and Louth are the only other Divisions with just three Garda personnel.
Earlier this month, Gardaí released statistics showing a 30% increase in Clare in the number of detections of drugs for sale or supply.
Superintendent Brendan McDonagh has been telling Clare FM’s Fiona Cahill that was a result of increased staffing numbers.
