The number of motorists arrested for drink driving offences has more than halved since 2007.

So far this year more than 8,700 drivers have been caught over the limit compared to in excess of 19,800 in 2007.

However over 22% of convicted motorists have committed 2 or more drink-driving offences.

A clamp down on drink-driving will be one of the main focuses of the Garda road safety campaign over the coming weeks.

Men between the age of 23 and 32 account for the greatest number of offenders with late nights and early mornings on weekends the most common time for drink driving to occur.

Number of detections are rising

Last year the limit was lowered to 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood from 80 milligrams.

As a result Gardai say there has been an increase in the number of people detected over the limit the morning after particularly on Sunday mornings.

The report today also examines repeat offenders over a 4-year period.

It shows that more than 22% of motorists caught drink driving have been arrested 2 or more times with one driver alone detected over the limit on 26 occasions.

While 86% of the offences were committed by men.

Garda Derek Cloughly and Chief Superintendent Aiden Reid are from the Garda Traffic Bureau.