Mr. Drew Harris:

We have increased our number of lifesaver-type detections that prevent serious collisions. To the end of August, specifically in terms of those who might have been driving while intoxicated, we detected 5,311 individuals. The figure is up 8% on last year. It is a very worrying trend. We are very aware of our ongoing responsibility to ensure road safety. I have written to the chief executive of the Road Safety Authority offering assurance on our ongoing commitment to have an assistant commissioner with specific responsibility for road policing and community engagement. That has been kept within our organisational chart and it remains the responsibility of an assistant commissioner. There has been no downgrading of that. Under the new divisional model, one of the community engagement superintendents will also have direct responsibility for roads policing.

We want to keep the focus on it. Roads policing is important for the prevention of deaths on the roads. However, it is not just about the roads policing section. It is also about what other members of An Garda Síochána do regarding roads policing as well as being the responsibility of all members of society in terms of our behaviour on the road. It is very worrying to see a further increase in the number of individuals detected driving under the influence of alcohol. Our commitment on this issue continues and I have assured the Road Safety Authority, RSA, in that regard. I will meet it shortly regarding any further concerns it may have. We have a good working relationship. We see ourselves as being in partnership and that is how the relationship will continue.