Garda unit investigating missing Deirdre has seen almost half its staff cut

The Garda unit investigating high-profile missing women such as Newbridge's Deirdre Jacob has had its staffing cut by almost half in the past two years.

The Serious Crime Review Team had only eight staff at the close of 2015, compared to 15 members in 2013, official figures show.

The team, commonly known as the cold-case unit, is tasked with reviewing unsolved homicides and other serious crimes and provides assistance to local gardaí.

Cases include the murders of Raonaid Murray in Glenageary, Dublin, in September 1999, Irene White in Dundalk, Co Louth, in April 2005, Emer O’Loughlin in Tubber, Co Clare, in April 2005 and Eddie Fitzmaurice in Charlestown, Mayo, in May 1998.

The cold-case unit has been praised for its work, which has led to progress, including breakthroughs, in cases. However, figures released by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald show a significant drop in staffing.

In response to a parliamentary question asked by Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins, she said numbers fell from 13 in 2011 to 11 in 2012, rising to 15 in 2013. The strength fell to 14 in 2014 and to eight in 2015 — a cut of 47% since 2013.

However A Garda spokesman insisted there was a process in place to “increase numbers”.