An Irish South MEP has said that drug driving on Irish Roads is a scourge.
Cynthia Ní Mhurcú was reacting to the news that up to October this year 2,050 were before the district courts on drug driving charges an increase of 37% on 2024 figures..
In Carlow 23 suspected drug drivers were before the court an increase of 5% on last year while in Kilkenny the number was 25 a decrease of 24% for the same period.
A total of 1,499 people faced district court proceedings for drug driving in 2024, but this has already risen by 37% in the first 10 months of 2025, with 2025 marking the highest level on record for drug driving prosecutions in our district court system.
Ní Mhurchú said the trend reflects a steady rise since 2020 — but warned that this year’s sharp escalation is particularly alarming.
Table: Persons before the district court on drug driving charges between 2024 and January – October 2025. Broken down by district court office.
MEP Ní Mhurchú has called for decisive action this Christmas to curb the escalating threat of drug driving,
“We need an expanded roadside drug testing regime this Christmas period on our roads. We also need to consider policies whereby anyone convicted of drug driving is required to re-sit their driving test or, at minimum, complete a comprehensive driver re-education programme. They have to get the message that they are a danger to other innocent road users”
