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Garda Checkpoints

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2011

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Questions (368)

Michael McCarthy

Question:

378 Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm the number of Garda checkpoints that were in operation on the following bank holiday weekends this year: Friday 29 April to Monday 2 May, Friday 3 June to Monday 6 June, Friday 29 July to Monday 1 August and Friday 28 October to Monday 31 October separately; the number of checkpoints operating in each county on each weekend in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33164/11]

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Written answers

All members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with the enforcement of relevant legislation, including the Road Traffic and Road Transport Acts. As part of this enforcement policy, members of An Garda Síochána set up checkpoints, including mandatory alcohol testing (MAT) checkpoints.

The information readily available relates to MAT checkpoints, which are authorised in writing by a District Officer or Inspector, to conduct mandatory breath testing. The objective of MAT checkpoints is to increase compliance by road users, detect incidents of drink driving, reduce road traffic fatalities and deter incidents of alcohol impaired driving by systematically selecting drivers to assess their level of alcohol impairment.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that to compile the information on a county basis would require a disproportionate use of Garda resources. The following table shows the numbers of MAT checkpoints over bank holiday weekends in 2011 broken down by Garda Division.

Number of Mandatory Alcohol Testing Checkpoints on Bank Holiday Weekends in 2011*

Garda Division

29 April - 2 May

3 June - 6 June

29 July - 1 August

28 October - 31 October

DMR East

11

5

13

5

DMR North Central

3

14

5

6

DMR North

17

27

19

17

DMR South Central

13

11

13

9

DMR South

19

16

12

8

DMR West

13

25

18

24

Kildare

33

19

20

19

Laois/Offaly

26

35

22

29

Meath

58

58

29

37

Westmeath

25

27

21

23

Wicklow

46

45

19

16

Cavan/Monaghan

36

27

55

58

Donegal

53

41

29

58

Louth

21

54

28

36

Sligo/Leitrim

48

32

58

43

Kilkenny/Carlow

43

82

84

55

Tipperary

114

101

107

100

Waterford

40

37

18

32

Wexford

54

48

58

65

Cork City

23

46

42

26

Cork North

58

73

54

55

Cork West

86

72

83

38

Kerry

26

24

33

31

Limerick

43

72

47

44

Clare

48

63

54

48

Galway

88

94

51

36

Mayo

46

55

28

29

Roscommon/Longford

24

40

38

21

*Information provided is operational and liable to change and is valid to 2 November, 2011.

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