Alan Farrell
Ceist:
155. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the banned substances identified during road traffic incidents; the number of occasions on which each of those substances were identified by gardaí in each of the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58328/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána. Regrettably this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy again once it is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
I refer to Parliamentary Question No.155 of 23 November 2022 where you sought: “The banned substances identified during road traffic incidents; the number of occasions on which each of those substances were identified by Gardaí in each of the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form”.
As you will recall, Minister McEntee sought the information you requested and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand. As I have since taken office, I am responding to your question
As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters .
I am advised that Gardaí use preliminary drug testing devices at the roadside or in a Garda station to test a person’s oral fluid for Cannabis, Cocaine, Opiates and Benzodiazepines. If positive, a blood specimen can be taken which will be sent to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) for evidential testing. The MBRS then provide An Garda Síochána with the results of their analysis.
I am further advised that the Garda authorities are not in a position to effectively provide information on the banned substances tested as the MIT Checkpoint record on PULSE does not provide this information.
I am informed by the Garda authorities improved recording structures of breath tests were implemented on the PULSE System on the 13 August 2017 and this date is taken as the start point for the examination of data for intoxicant testing carried out at Mandatory Intoxication Testing Checkpoints.
The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of positive roadside alcohol breath and oral fluid tests carried out at Mandatory Intoxication Testing (MIT) Checkpoints from 13 August 2017 up to 30 November 2022.
|
Year
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
|
Positive Roadside Breath Tests
|
674
|
1661
|
1474
|
452
|
538
|
833
|
|
Positive Roadside Oral Fluid Tests
|
60
|
269
|
562
|
562
|
476
|
391
|
• This information is based upon operational data from the Pulse system as was available on 05 December 2022 and is liable to change.
I hope that this information is of assistance.
