A dog sniffer unit for the Cavan-Monaghan region is set to be established "in the not too distant future".
At a recent Cavan Joint Policing Committee meeting, Bailieborough Superintendent Gordon Englishby confirmed that work on the unit "will advance very soon".
There were plans for the unit to be in place earlier this year, but Cavan Superintendent Padraic Jones said "covid parked those plans".
He said the "process is underway" and that the dogs can be used for other things, like public order offences.
He added that the national dog unit is "forthcoming" when an application is made by local gardaí for sniffer dogs in the interim.
Speaking to Shannonside Northern Sound, local TD Pauline Tully said she hopes to see the unit in place "very soon":