Over 130% increase in drug driving cases before district courts in Roscommon
Neighbouring counties have also recorded dramatic increases in the number of drug driving cases being heard before the district courts.
There has been a staggering 133% increase in the number of drug driving cases being heard before the district courts in County Roscommon.
Latest figures show that there were nine people before the district courts in 2024 and this rose to 21 from January to October 2025.
Similarly neighbouring counties have recorded dramatic increases. In Longford last year there were 14 people before the courts but this rose to 76 this year, the equivalent of a 443% rise; in Longford there was an increase of 562% from 13 to 86; in Sligo there was a 124% increase from 9 to 21 and in Carrick-on-Shannon the increase was 50% from 14 to 21.
The latest figures were supplied to Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú by the Irish courts service who said the trend reflects a steady rise since 2020 — but warned that this year’s sharp escalation is particularly alarming.
Ms 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.”
She 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.”
Ms 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, 7 more people than on the same date in 2024.
