Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 5

Written Answers. - Underage Drinking.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

24 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice the number of prosecutions that have been taken by the relevant authorities in respect of underage drinking in each year from 1986-91; the number of convictions secured in each year from 1986-91 by Garda division; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information sought in the question as far as it is readily available, is as set out in the following table. The remainder of the information sought is not readily available and could be obtained only by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources.

Prosecutions and Convictions for Underage Drinking Offences, 1986-90.

	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
	Pros.	Conv.	Pros.	Conv.	Pros.	Conv.	Pros.	Conv.	Pros.	Conv.
Bandon	1	1	2	Nil	2	Nil	3	1	16	3
Castlebar	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	1	1	9	4	5	2
Dundalk	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	4	1	6	5	27	6
Ennis	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	3	2	8	2
Limerick	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	1	1	23	14	8	Nil
Letterkenny	1	1	1	1	Nil	Nil	4	3	4	2
Galway	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	38	12	8	1
Monaghan	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	2	Nil	1	Nil	11	3
Mullingar	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	2	2	1	Nil
Naas	Nil	Nil	5	1	2	2	6	3	13	6
Portlaoise	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	1	Nil	2	1	6	5
Roscommon	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	2	1	13	6
Sligo	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	8	6	4	2
Thurles	Nil	Nil	3	Nil	Nil	Nil	19	8	11	6
Tralee	2	2	3	2	4	1	21	4	7	2
Union Quay	1	Nil	1	Nil	4	Nil	13	6	7	4
Waterford	1	1	6	2	6	3	10	3	13	2
Wexford	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	2	2	11	3	5	1
DMA	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	75	2	84	2
Totals	6	5	21	6	29	11	256	80	251	55

Footnote to statistical table: There are two broad categories of offences covered by the question — (a) offences of selling or supplying intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 and (b) offences of underage drinking by juveniles under the provisions of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1988. The number of prosecutions and convictions given for each of the years 1986, 1987 and 1988 relates only to (a). The number of prosecutions given for each of the years 1989 and 1990 relates to both (a) and (b), while the number of convictions given for each of these years relates only to (a).