Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We might come in on a tandem bike next week or, maybe, e-scooters.

This is a good discussion. We spent many months talking about road haulage but the reality is that over the past 18 months, e-scooters have become an increasing feature on our roads. The first time I saw one was probably about two years ago in Dublin. It was a head-turner and a novelty factor but suddenly they are everywhere. Another form of transport, if we can call it that, is probably less official than the e-scooter. Hoverboards are being used by teenagers and young people quite a lot. They may not be as formal in terms of a mode of transport but they are certainly being used by some children going from friends' houses to the local shop or even to school. They should not be omitted from our discussions.

I read the briefing note. It is quite interesting how this is being regulated in different countries. The first thing we need to look at is some kind of age limit. In some continental European countries, a person must be 14 to 16 years of age to operate an e-scooter. They are great. We have seen people be able to travel independently of their parents in and around their communities. However, there are hazards associated with them. A person needs to be a certain age to have the level of responsibility necessary to take these vehicles out on the open road or cross busy intersections. Anything that brings about regulation in that regard is good.

Something that falls under different road usage is sulky racing. This is a big feature throughout Ireland. We are being told that section 47 of the Roads Act 1993 regulates the use of carriage driving and horse racing on open roads yet the reality is that throughout the country, including my constituency, every so often, four or five pick-up vans or jeeps barricade a motorway going four or five vehicles wide, set up a racecourse in front of all the traffic, hold all the traffic behind them and have lucrative and heavily betted on races on these motorways. A message needs to be sent. This is something this committee needs to do a bit of work on. Deputy Mattie McGrath tried to bring in tighter legislation on this two years ago. It is another abuse of our roads that this committee needs to look at.

I have followed the issue of dynamic speed limits with interest. I hope I am being accurate but a major flaw in our speed limit system is the fact that local authorities get to review speed limits every five years. This is a source of significant frustration for communities and the politicians who represent them. It needs to be somewhat more fluid. As politicians, we are continuously lobbied by schools or housing estates that are located in areas which, for one reason or another, have become unsafe and they want the speed limit lowered but that has to be agreed by council engineers and An Garda Síochána. The window relating to carrying out review in that regard is every five years.

We were informed recently that Fáilte Ireland has a hugely impressive plan for Lough Dearg, with funding of more than €70 million for enhancements. Fáilte Ireland stated that by means of co-operation with the NTA, there would be an enhanced Local Link bus route around the shores of Lough Dearg taking in the Clare and Tipperary sides with a stop in Portumna in Galway. Could Ms Graham provide an update on that?

We have been discussing motorway safety. One major road safety hazard on motorways that I know of - other representatives from Clare might want to speak about - is the N18 junction exit for Barefield. Motorist travel on a motorway at 120 km per hour, with some even exceeding that speed, and suddenly they must come off it at a 60° angle and onto the off-ramp for the Barefield exit. It is so sharp. Cars have lost control there. This also needs to be in the mix. Yes, we should be talking about dynamic speed limits and enhanced speed regulation coming into Dublin, which is the biggest arterial route in the country, but we also need a focus on that junction.