A total of 15 Irish Rail employees have failed drug tests in the past three years, new figures have revealed.
The company’s workers underwent 830 random drug and alcohol tests during that period, while another 228 tests were performed “for cause” or in the aftermath of incidents.
These resulted in six positive drug tests in 2020, three in 2021, and six last year. No Irish Rail employees have tested positive for alcohol since 2018.
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A total of nine disciplinary actions arising from drug tests concluded during the same three-year period, all of which resulted in employees being dismissed or leaving the organisation.
In 2020, one worker left Irish Rail after substituting a urine sample used in a drug and alcohol test, and another left the company after they were found to be under the influence of an illegal drug.
In 2021, one employee was dismissed after failing a drug test, while another was fired for being under the influence of an illegal drug.
Last year, five employees were dismissed for failing drug tests or being under the influence of an illegal drug, according to records released by Irish Rail under the Freedom of Information Act.
The state-owned company would not reveal the roles held by employees who had tested positive for drugs, but said no train drivers had failed tests during the period.
“Iarnród Éireann has one of the most robust drug and alcohol policies in the state, and the data – particularly the extremely low number of positive results – demonstrates both the professionalism and safety focus of our workforce, and the seriousness with which Iarnród Éireann treats positive cases,” said a spokesman.
The disparity between the number of positive tests and the number of disciplinary actions since 2020 is due to the fact that proceedings may not yet be resolved, or it may have transpired that tests had detected prescribed medications, he added.
Under Irish Rail’s drug and alcohol policy, a minimum of five percent of the company’s employees are subjected to random testing every year. Any worker who fails a test faces disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
Contractors who test positive for drugs or alcohol are banned from holding Irish Rail contracts, while further disciplinary measures are a matter for their employers.
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