Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing this matter on the Adjournment and I thank the Minister of State for attending to respond to it. I bring to the attention of the House an increasing problem associated with petrol-propelled scooters which are popular with many young people. Will the Minister of State clarify whether children and young people under 16 are legally entitled to drive them? Will he state whether it is legal for a person under 16 to purchase petrol from a garage?

In preparing for this Adjournment debate, I carried out a small survey of petrol stations to determine whether they had any policy on selling petrol to people under 16. Few petrol stations had notices stating children under 16 should not access petrol from their petrol pumps. However, I understand from anecdotal comments that young people are buying petrol from petrol stations and garages to power their scooters. We need national guidelines to inform petrol station owners and their staff of the law.

Four years ago, we began to see many young people using the two-wheeled motor-propelled scooter. Over the past 12 months, there has been an increase in the number of mini-motorbikes with high-powered engines. There are also mini-quad bikes which can reach quite high speeds. The mini-scooters are popular with young people under 16 who do not receive any training on how to operate them. They do not have driving licences nor are they insured. Children, because of their low body weights, can reach quite high speeds on such motorised scooters, especially the newer, more sophisticated versions.

Unfortunately, one young person was killed recently on a mini-scooter in Belfast. This was a tragedy waiting to happen. There have been a number of accidents and serious incidents but it is only a matter of time until more young people are killed or seriously injured.

This is the second time in a week that I have raised an issue concerning young people and new technology. Last week, I raised the issue of mobile phone ringtones and I have had a great response from many people, parents in particular, who share my concerns. The lack of a regulatory framework regarding the sale and use of mini-scooters and mini-motorbikes is similar to the lack of such a framework in the mobile telephony sector. They are a new technology and are instantly popular with young people, which is quite understandable. However, regulatory frameworks and parents often lag far behind in addressing the possible child safety issues associated with technology. I often see and hear young people using mini-scooters and motorbikes in estates of my Dublin South-Central constituency. I am sure the repeated sound of their lawnmower-type engines is familiar to everybody in the House.

I have no problem with the regulated use of mini-scooters and mini-motorbikes. However, they should be supervised and off the public roads. There is a real child safety issue associated with their use by people under 16 on the public roads. The Garda appears to have adopted something of a hands-off policy. I can understand the reasons for its reluctance to take action against young people but we need to have regard to the safety of children and others on our roads. I am particularly concerned about elderly pedestrians, for example.

We need to address the sale and distribution of mini-scooters and mini-motorbikes. There are obligations on the distributors and retail outlet staff in this regard. What do they tell their customers? Do they sell directly to people under 16? After addressing the sale and distribution of mini-scooters, we need to address their use. To what guidelines is the Garda operating? Is it illegal for a person under 16 to use these vehicles on public roads? Can we offer safer, off-road sites where mini-scooters and mini-motorbikes can be used?

Finally, we must address the sale and distribution of petrol. Is it illegal to sell or supply petrol to a person under 16? If so, do the garages' staff know of the relevant stipulation? I would like to see the law in this area enforced and effective public notice given.

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