Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 808: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number charged and the number convicted for drunk driving in each year since 2005 to date in 2008; the number of people breathalysed since the introduction of mandatory breath testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29075/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Following the submission of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, it was decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, from the Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 consequently makes provision for this, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. The CSO has published crime statistics since the third quarter of 2006.

I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy on the numbers convicted for drunk driving in each year since 2005 to date in 2008 directly to him.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that statistics on the number of people breathalysed since the introduction of mandatory alcohol testing are currently being compiled. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.