‘Tip of the ice berg'- 22% increase in drug drivers brought before Waterford courts

Waterford has seen a 22% increase in drug driving cases as 78 people were before Waterford district courts on drug driving charges in the first 10 months of 2025. 

Drug-driving prosecutions in our district courts have surged, with 2,050 people before the courts up to October 2025 alone for drug driving offences, according to figures supplied to Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú by the Irish courts service. 

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.

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”.

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Ní Mhurchú has also suggested deploying modified interlock technology — devices currently used to prevent drink driving in the cars of convicted drink drivers — so they can detect drugs instead of alcohol in the vehicles of repeat offenders. 

The Ireland South MEP described the cases that do make it to the district court as being the "tip of the ice berg when it comes to drug driving”.

Ní Mhurchú described these measures as an essential ramp up in the fight against drug driving in an effort to protect all road users and restore confidence in road safety this festive season.

As of December 9th 2025, 170 people had lost their lives on our roads, which is seven more people than on the same date in 2024.