A MAJOR garda operation is being launched in Kerry over the next two months concentrating on tackling drink-driving after the latest figures were revealed this afternoon.

The traffic and drink-driving figures revealed by Garda Chief Superintendent for the Kerry Division David Sheahan at a meeting of the Joint Policing Committee on Friday, showed an increase in intoxicated while driving incidents from 134 in the first half of 2015 to 151 in the same period this year.

It showed 51 of these cases were detected in people aged 21-30,  46 of whom were male. The Chief Supt said the figures were disappointing and debunks the myth that young people are being more responsible than the older generation when it comes to drink driving and that the message is not getting through to them. Only 17 out of the 151 detected were female.

There were 28 detections in the 31-40 age group, 24 in the 41-50 category and 15 in the 51 to 60 age group.

Chief Supt Sheahan said the gardaí in Kerry are launching specific operations all over the county over four Saturdays in July (beginning tomorrow) and three Saturdays in August, where they will concentrate on drink driving detection.

The figures also revealed there were three road fatalities from January to June 29 this year, the same as that period in 2015, while serious injury collisions increased from six to nine in the period.

There were four drug driving detections in 2016 so far compared to six in the same period last year.