Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the regulation of quad bikes and scramblers after a young toddler ended up in hospital as a result of a crash between a quad bike and a scrambler in a public area in my constituency. This is obviously a wider issue given the fact that two Deputies from different constituencies are here to speak on this issue.

Five people were killed in accidents with quads and scramblers between 2014 and 2018, three of whom were under 18. We have gone back and forth on this. A few years back, there was an inter-agency, interdepartmental working group on the matter but the Garda still struggles with enforcement. It says that it needs more powers to be able to enforce effectively the regulations on quads and scramblers which, as we are seeing, are dangerous pieces of equipment.

Another aspect is that there is little traceability or responsibility of ownership of quads and scramblers. Social media videos can speak to that. If one buys a car, another dangerous motor vehicle, there is a logbook which adds some level of traceability of ownership and level of responsibility. We need to look at legislation in this area before we see an increase in the number of people who die.

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