Drug-Driving Surge Sparks Calls For Christmas Crackdown

Tuesday, 16 December 2025 at 07:12

A Westmeath town saw the highest increase in the region.

Drug-driving prosecutions have surged in the Midlands at an average of 194%.

Mullingar saw the highest increase in the region, jumping from 13 cases in 2024 to 86 this year — a rise of 562%.

Portlaoise also recorded an increase, with cases rising from 39 to 44, a 13% uptake year on year, while Tullamore cases increased from 15 to 16 over the same period.

Nationally, there has been a 37% rise to 2,050 cases recorded up to October 2025, the highest level on record.

The figures underline growing concern over drug driving, prompting calls for tougher enforcement and a Christmas crackdown on offenders.

Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú is calling 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”