Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand that legislation exists, as was stated in the Garda report, but some of the areas in which dirt bikes are used do not come under the category of roads, streets or parks. They include laneways leading up to people's houses and in the vicinity of senior citizens. Another area where the bikes are used are rough walkways along canals used by people for fishing. They are not designated pathways and that is where the difficulty lies. Access to such areas can be difficult for Garda Síochána vehicles and therefore the gardaí cannot pursue those involved.

There has been a significant increase in my area in the number of young people who own such bikes and, unfortunately, the children who use them are getting younger. I am concerned that a young person using such dirt bikes will be killed. The bikes are now used by children as young as eight, ten and 12 years. When a garda from Ballyfermot tried to stop some youths recently he was seriously injured. That type of behaviour is part of the problem as well.

I accept what the Minister said about his brief and that the issue also comes under the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality. I intend to raise the matter with the Minister for Justice and Equality also as serious incidents are occurring. I fear that the matter will only be further highlighted in the event of a young person on a dirt bike being seriously injured or an elderly person being knocked down and seriously injured. I respect what the Minister said in his reply, but we need to introduce further measures to curtail the use of dirt bikes, whether through his Department or the Department of Justice and Equality.

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