Kildare TD "Deeply Concerned" About RSA Plans To Install Breathalyser Terminals In Hotel And Pubs

It comes as the RSA is to spend around €1.5 million on their deployment across the country

Social Democrats and Kildare North TD Aidan Farrelly has described RSA proposals to install breathalyser terminals in hotels and pubs around the country as "frankly disgraceful" and that they "should be stood down".

It comes as the Road Safety Authority is to spend around €1.5 million on the deployment of the terminals around the country to allow motorists to check if they are over the legal driving limit before going behind the wheel.

The RSA said the terminals would be deployed across a minimum of 12 counties, with at least one terminal to be placed in each of the six counties with the highest rate of individuals killed and seriously injured in road traffic collisions.

Currently, they are Monaghan, Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Kerry.

Deputy Farrelly said the RSA needs to "reassess its decision" to go to tender for the rollout of the breathalysers.

“The RSA has plucked an arbitrary figure of 20 terminals to be installed, across 12 counties at an estimated cost of €1.5 million.

“The message going out to drivers from the RSA should be a simple one - never ever drink and drive, not drink as much as you will get away with, which is what this policy conveys.

“I am deeply concerned with this move by the RSA, and I would question the extent to which the Minister for Transport has been included."

Deputy Farrelly also believes that if "the Minister has sanctioned the use of taxpayers money on this policy, he ought to be ashamed.

“This approach is neglectful and a sharp turn away from a zero-tolerance approach to drink driving, as it endorses a narrative that “just the one” is fine. It must be revoked immediately," the Kildare Deputy concluded.

The RSA says that the plans follow a pilot programme last year which revealed how a high proportion of motorists mistakenly believed they were under the legal limit.

The research showed that 45 per cent of people in over 24,000 tests conducted thought they were under the legal limit when their actual breath tests results found they exceeded the limit.

The RSA had made breathalysers available at hospitality locations and events across Ireland over a six-month period between August 2024 and February 2025.

The results showed 64 per cent of those who exceeded the blood alcohol legal limit of 0.50g/l had said they were going to drive.

In addition, 77 per cent of those who mistakenly believed they were under the limit had indicated they were going to drive.

Figures found young males aged 18-34 were most likely to underestimate their alcohol levels and say they were going to drive.

The RSA has now issued a tender for the provision of 20 terminals which will be deployed across hotels, pubs, golf clubs and large sports venues.