*Gardaí on duty in Shannon. Photograph: Steve Ford
Changes to policing in Clare are to be unveiled tomorrow (Thursday) as Commissioner Drew Harris announces a new Garda operating model.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Clare’s Garda Division could be disbanded to form part of the Southern Region which would also include Cork West, Cork North, Cork City, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary.
Such changes would see local divisions double in size but the amount of Garda Divisions would drop from 28 to 19 and similar deductions to Chief Superintendents.
A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told The Clare Echo, “The new Operating Model will see improvements to the organisation’s structures, processes, services and governance that will increase the number of front-line Gardaí, deliver a more localised service to communities, and maximise An Garda Síochána’s operational impact”.
Galway native Sean Colleran who became Chief Supt in Clare last month is expected to be one of those to no longer hold such a title as a result. In an interview with The Clare Champion earlier this month, Colleran said, “The only real reduction that could happen is there may be less chiefs and quite possibly the administrative support that comes with that. Any changes are designed to improve the service. Whatever changes there are, they are designed to improve efficiencies but certainly there will be no reduction in services”.
