625. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if further drug-testing devices will be supplied for road safety enforcement to An Garda Síochána or if the 50,000 units currently being tested with the Medical Bureau of Road Safety are the total that will be allocated; if he will report on whether these 50,000 are single-use or multi-use; and the lifespan of the chosen devices. [5798/15]

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): The procurement, assessment and testing of devices to detect the presence of drugs at the roadside is the responsibility of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS).  

The MBRS invited tenders for the provision of roadside devices to test for the presence of drugs in August 2014 and is currently assessing the tenders submitted. Neither I nor my Department are involved in the procurement or selection process.

The devices will be tested for their suitability in due course by the MBRS in conjunction with An Garda Síochána.  I understand that this process will take some time and that the selection of a preferred device is expected to take place later this year. I understand that the MBRS will liaise with An Garda Síochána as to the number of devices that will be necessary.

Primary legislation to allow An Garda Síochána to undertake roadside drug tests is currently being prepared by my Department.  The enabling provisions will be included in the Road Traffic Bill 2015, the main focus of which will be to provide for the testing of drivers for drugs at the roadside.