Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The misuse of scrambler and quad bikes presents a great danger to people in many of our communities when they are used by children or adults without any level of training, supervision or respect for one's neighbours. I accept that this problem is not occurring in every area but it is a phenomenon that is growing every year. Many of our communities are plagued by the buzzing noise to which other Deputies referred. I can often hear that buzz from my garden as the bikes go up and down the road all day, seven days a week. It is particularly bad at the weekend. I have talked to the Garda about how I have witnessed incidents where scramblers have been used on main roads and in green spaces. There is any amount of video evidence of such activity. Other speakers have talked about how these vehicles are being used by drug dealers. I know that is true because I witness it every day. Again, it is certain communities that are being impacted by this activity. There is clear evidence that the bikes are being used to transport drugs and I would like to see the Garda being much more proactive in tackling it.

This is not the first time we have raised this issue in the House. I have brought it to the attention of different Governments over many years. The response from Government has always been about what cannot be done but not what can be done. Different parties have made all sorts of efforts to come up with legislative changes but it always comes back to the claim that there are difficulties to contend with which mean the proposals cannot be implemented. I want to hear from the Minister this evening about what can be done to address this problem. Some areas have been much more proactive in this regard than others. I want to learn from them and see the same thing happening in my own area.

I have seen at first hand the damage that has been done to our green spaces and playing pitches by quad and scrambler bikes. It is soul-destroying for people to take their children to play a game only to find that the pitch is destroyed. I could give the Minister numerous examples of this involving GAA and soccer clubs. We do not want to take away anyone's fun. These vehicles are used legitimately across the State for a variety of purposes, including on farms and in forestry. However, they are not toys and they are not suitable for use in public places where pedestrians are present. There are clearly problems with their use and I want to see the Garda authorities being more proactive, with additional powers given to seize and detain the vehicles. I am told that the people driving them cannot be stopped but I see them going around without helmets and with no regard for their own safety or that of others. Walking through a park, one may find one of these vehicles being driven right alongside one on the walkway. Our parks should be inclusive spaces, not places where people are excluded because of the reckless activities of others. That is the reality of what is happening in many communities. Only a small minority of people are causing problems and it needs to stop. I want to see an end to these vehicles being driven on our roads and in our parks and in a way that destroys pitches and green spaces.

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