I am informed by the Garda authorities that the evidential breath testing equipment was introduced on 1 November 1999 and that the details of the number of persons charged and convicted for drink driving offences using the equipment since then is not readily available. The House will appreciate that since the system was introduced on 1 November 1999, many cases involving its use have not yet reached court. I am further informed by the Garda authorities, however, that a total of 308 persons were processed using the system since it was introduced and that it is being continually monitored by the Garda National Traffic Bureau.
Detailed prosecution and conviction statistics in relation to drink driving cases are published annually in the Garda Commissioner's Annual Crime Report and the latest report published is in respect of 1998. The House may be interested to know that the equipment is being used at four locations, that is, Crumlin, Pearse Street, Dún Laoghaire and Castlebar Garda stations—