Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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637. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the plans for roadside drug testing will proceed as planned or if there will be any changes in view of the recent discoveries regarding Garda roadside testing; when roadside drug testing will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16242/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​Preliminary testing for the presence of drugs in drivers is provided for in the Road Traffic Act 2016.  It is my intention to commence the provisions relating to such tests from 13 April next.

The recent revelations about the counting of numbers of preliminary breath tests conducted by An Garda Síochána, while deeply concerning, do not have an impact on the introduction of preliminary drug testing.  Preliminary drug tests will provide an important new tool in identifying drivers who have taken drugs, just as preliminary alcohol tests provide an important tool for identifying drivers who have consumed alcohol.

The carrying out of these tests and the counting of how many tests have been done are operational matters for An Garda Síochána.