asked the Minister for the Environment the number of breathanalyser kits bought by or on behalf of the Gardaí since the beginning of the year.

I understand from the Medical Bureau of Road Safety that the number purchased to date is 10,000.

Can the Minister give an indication of a comparison between that figure and the figure for the corresponding period last year?

I have not the figure for last year but the figure of 10,000——

Is that the total number to date?

The question referred to the number bought since the beginning of the year. Therefore, the figure given is the figure to date from the beginning of the year. Since these items can be used only once the figure will be much greater next year. The cost involved was £4,896 but the Garda estimate that the cost for next year will be of the order of £36,000.

Could the Minister say what number of breathanalyser kits will be represented by the £38,000 next year?

That is a separate question.

Assuming that the cost does not increase too much, the present figure of 10,000 could be multiplied by seven.

That is 70,000.

According to my calculations.

9.