Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 548: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the facilities in place for detection of drug and substance abuse for persons driving and in contravention of the Road Traffic Acts; the number of prosecutions taken and convictions acquired for drug and substance abuse while driving in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6680/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Road Traffic Act 1994 provides that a person shall not drive, or attempt to drive, a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place while under the influence of an intoxicant to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle. An intoxicant includes alcohol, drugs or any combination of drugs or of alcohol and drugs.

When a member of the Garda Síochána is dealing with a person whose driving has been erratic, he or she may form the opinion that the person has consumed an intoxicant to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle and arrest the person or require him or her to accompany the member to a Garda station for the purpose of obtaining a blood or urine sample which will be analysed by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. Dependent upon the circumstances, this sample will be analysed for alcohol and-or drugs.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy in respect of the numbers of prosecutions taken and convictions obtained for drug and substance abuse while driving is not compiled in such a way as to identify the intoxicant, that is, alcohol and drugs or any combination of drugs or of drugs and alcohol, involved in any particular offence. The amount of time it would take to compile such information would entail the disproportionate use of resources and could not be justified.