699. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of mandatory alcohol testing checkpoints run by An Garda Síochána during Christmas week 2025; and the number of detections of drink driving uncovered at these checkpoints, in tabular form. [21890/26]

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes all operational policing matters. I play no role in these independent functions.

Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies, in order to make our roads safer for all.

An Garda Síochána carried out a dedicated road traffic enforcement operation throughout the 2025 Christmas period which began on Monday, 1 December 2025 and continued until Monday, 5 January 2026. 

During the course of the operation, An Garda Síochána carried out nearly 10,000 checkpoints, both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints.

765 people were arrested during this period for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (either alcohol and/or drugs).

The Deputy may also be interested to note that An Garda Síochána publishes quarterly Road Policing statistics at the following link: https://www.garda.ie/en/roads-policing/statistics/roads%20policing%20offences%20by%20region%20and%20division/

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Dáil Éireann debate. Question 707 – Drug and alcohol testing [22028/26]

707. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the breakdown of arrests for drink driving in 2024 and 2025, by week, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22028/26]

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes all operational policing matters. I play no role in these independent functions.

Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies, in order to make our roads safer for all.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the below table provides a breakdown by year and month of the number of arrests for Drink Driving in 2024 and 2025.

Figures are based on incidents which occurred between 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the PULSE system as was available on 20 March 2026 and is liable to change.

The figures are based on incidents of Intoxicated Driving/In Charge of a Vehicle.