Home > Dail Eireann debate. Written answer 230 - Drugs crime [53120/17] [Driving].

[Oireachtas] Dail Eireann debate. Written answer 230 - Drugs crime [53120/17] [Driving]. (12 Dec 2017)


230. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 45 of 23 May 2017 and 286 of 27 June 2017, when the statistics requested will be made available; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53120/17]

 

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Charles Flanagan): Further to my recent correspondence, I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as of 30 November 2017, a total of 371 Garda personnel from the Garda Divisions of Cork City, Cork North and Cork West have received training in testing for the presence of drugs when a vehicle / driver has been stopped at a Mandatory Intoxicant Testing checkpoint or on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant. 

 

I am further informed that, in the period April 2017 to 30 November, a total of 74 drug driving tests have been administered in the three Cork divisions, of which 12 produced positive results.

 

As the Deputy is aware, the oral fluid test is only one of the options open to members of An Garda Síochána in respect of the detection of drug driving offences. Members of An Garda Síochána may form the opinion that a driver is under the influence of an intoxicant from their observation of the persons driving or the behaviour and appearance of the person when stopped.

 

In addition, the power to conduct an impairment test is provided under Section 11 of the Road Traffic Act, 2010, as amended, which permit members of An Garda Síochána to require a driver to perform a number of tests in order for the member to establish if the driver is committing an offence. These provisions have been further extended by the Road Traffic Act, 2016, which permits members of An Garda Síochána to perform an impairment test following arrest in respect of certain road traffic offences. As of 30 November 2017, 2,501 members of An Garda Síochána nationwide have received training in conducting impairment testing.

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