asked the Minister for Justice the number of breathanalyser kits used by the Garda Síochána in the course of duty for each year since the scheme was introduced; the number of charges initiated and prosecutions pursued through the courts for each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the trend these figures reflect.
Written Answers. - Breathanalyser Scheme.
320.
The relevant statistics are contained in the annual crime reports of the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The first full year of operation of the breathanalyser procedure was 1971. The most recent crime report relates to the year 1978 and it is expected that the 1979 report will be published shortly.
The variations from year to year up to 1978 in the statistics relating to drinking and driving offences reflect the fact that the operation of breath and blood/urine testing was suspended on a number of occasions following successful court challenges. I am informed that the relevant statistics for 1979 will show a substantial increase on the figures for 1978, reflecting the operation over the whole of 1979 of improvements in the law, brought into force on 20 July 1978, which made the enforcement of provisions designed to deal with drunken driving more effective.