The number of people taken off the roads because of drink or drug-driving increased by 12% last year.

The Courts Service says 3,845 motorists were disqualified due to these offences in 2018.

That is up more than 400 on 2017.

A further 1,400 motorists were banned in the first four months of this year.

Alec Lee, from Parc Road Safety Group, is calling for the courts to be tougher on those who break the law.

"A lot of them don't seem to be getting the message and the main reason is the deterrents - there's not really deterrents there as such.

"I see people there involved recently... they're charged with dangerous driving causing the death of someone.

"They don't get jail - some of them might get a suspended sentence, that's it.

"It's too lenient all together".

He claims the increase in detection is due to a Garda clampdown.

"We've always had a drink-driving culture and I couldn't see a massive increase in it.

"The way I look at it is that more people are being detected.

"That's probably because the Garda force - their numbers were cut recently, drastically - but now they're starting to bring them up again".