Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of breathalysers currently in use by the Garda with a breakdown for each individual Garda station. [14135/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Garda Commissioner is fully aware that I will continue to provide the necessary resources to the Garda Síochána, as requested by him, to enable them to carry out their duties in relation to our traffic laws.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are three types of breathalysers in use by that Garda Síochána — the blow-in-the-bag alcolyser and the alcometer, both of which are used for roadside breath testing, and the intoxilyser, which is installed in a number of Garda stations. The alcolyser and alcometer test for the presence of alcohol in the breath. The intoxilyser evidential breath testing instrument tests the driver's breath for the level of alcohol and eliminates the need for a doctor to take a blood or urine sample. Currently, there are 390 alcometers on issue to members in Garda district headquarters as well as the blow-in-the-bag type that are on issue in every Garda station. The breakdown of alcometers per Garda district is as set out in tabular form.

There are 64 evidential breath testing instruments, one in each of the following Garda stations.