Vol. 520 No. 1
243 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the recent study carried out by doctors at the Medical Bureau of Road Safety at UCD which states that there is a major increase in the number of people driving under the influence of drugs and where an analysis sample between July and December 1999 has shown that 37% tested positive for drugs and among the drugs uncovered was cannabis. [15127/00]
The Government strategy on road safety 1998-2002, recognises that the influence of drugs on driving behaviour is an issue of increasing concern. Identification of drugs is more complex than for alcohol. A number of research programmes are being carried out internationally in this area and the strategy commits the Government to monitoring and assessing these developments.
In order to advance research in relation to drugs and driving in Ireland, I provided additional funding of some £100,000 to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety to commence a two year programme of drug analysis of blood and urine specimens.
The preliminary findings of this programme were recently made available by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. These preliminary findings are based on blood and urine samples submitted to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety between 1 July and 31 December 1999 which were under the legal limit for alcohol. Thirty seven per cent of these samples tested were screened positive for drugs, the most common being cannabis.
These early findings underline the Government's view expressed in the road safety strategy that drugs and driving is an issue of growing concern. While it is too early to draw definitive conclusions, this programme when completed will, along with other international analysis and research in this area, inform of the need for possible changes in testing methods for the presence of drugs, changes in enforcement practice and procedures and possibly changes to existing legislation.
I must stress that under existing legislation it is already illegal to drive while under the influence of drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle.
