Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 4

Written Answers. - Drink Driving Statistics.

Jack Wall

Question:

426 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of drink driving cases brought before the courts for the month of August in each Garda division area for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23149/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

Recorded and detected statistics in relation to drink driving offences are included in the annual report of the Garda Síochána, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The most recent report is in respect of 1999. However, the statistics are not maintained in such a way as to isolate readily details in relation to the number of drink driving cases brought before the courts for the month of August for the past five years. It would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to compile such information. Details, per annual reports of the Garda Síochána, 1995 – 1999, of the total number of arrests for drink driving for the past five years is set out in the following tabular statement:

	No. of Arrests for Drink Driving Offences
1995	5,843
1996	6,286
1997	7,541
1998	8,707
1999	9,570

Details of arrests broken down by Garda division are not readily available. It would take require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to compile this information. A further breakdown is available in the annual reports. I refer the Deputy to the Garda road safety campaign, Operation Lifesaver. This campaign commenced in 1997 and, is focusing on the principal causes of road deaths, that is, speeding, drink driving, the non-wearing of seat belts and dangerous/careless driving. This campaign is an integral element of the Government's National Strategy on Road Safety, 1998-2002, and will continue into 2002.

Jack Wall

Question:

427 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of drink driving detection cases in each Garda division for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23150/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

Recorded and detected statistics in relation to drink driving offences are included in the annual report of the Garda Síochána, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The most recent report is in respect of 1999. However, the statistics are not maintained in such a way as to isolate readily details in relation to the number of drink driving cases brought before the courts for the month of August for the past five years. It would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to compile such information. Details, per annual reports of the Garda Síochána, 1995 – 1999, of the total number of arrests for drink driving for the past five years is set out in the following tabular statement:

	No. of Arrests for Drink Driving Offences
1995	5,843
1996	6,286
1997	7,541
1998	8,707
1999	9,570

Details of arrests broken down by Garda division are not readily available. It would take require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to compile this information. A further breakdown is available in the annual reports.

I refer the Deputy to the Garda road safety campaign, Operation Lifesaver. This campaign commenced in 1997 and, is focusing on the principal causes of road deaths, that is, speeding, drink driving, the non-wearing of seat belts and danger ous /careless driving. This campaign is an integral element of the Government's National Strategy on Road Safety, 1998-2002, and will continue into 2002.