Thurles Information

Drug Searches Drop By 44% In Tipp-Clare Garda Division Says Fine Gael TD, Mr Joe Cooney.

Clare Fine Gael TD, Mr Joe Cooney has expressed deep concern at the significant decline in both the sharp reduction in drug-related searches carried out across the Tipperary/Clare Garda Division and the number of Gardaí serving in County Clare.

Deputy Cooney said he would be raising the matter directly with the Minister for Justice, calling for urgent action to boost resources and personnel allocated to the Divisional Drugs Unit and An Garda Síochána more broadly throughout the region.

New figures provided to Deputy Cooney reveal that Garda numbers in County Clare have fallen by over 8% since 2020 — decreasing by 27 from 314 to 287. In Ennis alone, Garda numbers have dropped from 190 to 167, while Kilrush has seen a reduction of eight Gardaí over the same period, with 55 now stationed there.

Meanwhile, the number of searches conducted under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977/1984 across the Tipperary/Clare Garda Division has plummeted by a collosal 44%; from 2,726 in 2022 to 1,546 so far in 2024. There has also been a drop in overall detections of ‘Possession of Drugs for Sale and Supply’ and ‘Simple Possession’.

• Deputy Cooney pointed out that just 18 Gardaí, same comprising 15 Garda members and 3 Sergeants, are currently assigned to the Tipperary/Clare Divisional Drugs Unit, which is tasked with covering a vast geographic area, stretching from Loop Head and Ballyvaughan in Co. Clare to Carrick-on-Suir in South Co. Tipperary.

“The Tipperary/Clare Divisional Drugs Unit has been doing outstanding work in tackling the scourge of illegal drugs in our communities, but they urgently need more resources to sustain and strengthen that effort,” said Deputy Cooney. “I am calling on the Minister for Justice and Garda management to allocate additional personnel and resources to the Divisional Drugs Unit to support the great work they are doing, as evidenced by recent significant drug seizures. We need to ensure that Gardaí on the front lines of this fight have the tools, support, and numbers required to disrupt drug networks, protect our young people, and safeguard our towns and rural communities.”

Deputy Cooney said that while he welcomed Government initiatives such as Operation Tara and the substantial increase in national policing budgets, more targeted resourcing is urgently needed in the Mid-West region.

“Tackling drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence, and misery on families and communities across Ireland, must be a top priority for this Government,” he added. “I fully support the measures being taken at national level as part of Government plans to tackle illegal drug use, but there is a clear and pressing need for greater resourcing of our Drugs Units in areas like Tipperary and Clare.”

Deputy Cooney confirmed he will be tabling questions to the Minister for Justice, Mr Jim O’Callaghan, and pressing for a clear plan to reverse the decline in local Garda numbers and restore search and enforcement capacity across the region.