A motorist was arrested on average every half an hour over the bank holiday for suspected drunk or drug driving.
181 people were arrested in total for the offences over the weekend.
Three people were also killed in crashes in Counties Wicklow, Donegal and Tipperary between Friday and Monday.
Gardaí launched an enforcement campaign for the bank holiday on Friday afternoon.
More than 700 cars were also detected driving over the speed limit on Bank Holiday Monday, nearly double the 381 cars detected the day before.
Leo Leighio from the Irish Road Victims' Association thinks cars should be fitted with breathalysers.
"Why can't cars be fitted with those intoxicator gadgets that the car won't start until you breathe in it"?
