Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleagues, na Teachtaí Ellis and Paul Donnelly, for bringing forward this motion. Anyone who has experienced the terror of scramblers and quad bikes being driven recklessly at speed in their community will know that the proposed legislation is long overdue. Every year we have warnings around this time appealing to parents not to buy scramblers and quad bikes for children for Christmas. It is about time the Garda had adequate powers to deal with this menace on our streets.

In the period from 2014 to 2019, the Minister will be aware that six people died as a result of incidents involving quad bikes or scramblers, three of whom were aged 18 or under, according to statistics published by the Road Safety Authority. In the same period, 60 people were injured in collisions involving a quad bike or scrambler on public roads. Of those killed or injured, 41% of casualties were 18 years of age or under.

There is no doubt that the use of scramblers and quad bikes by children pose a serious safety hazard. These are powerful machines which have the potential to injure someone severely or even fatally. That is why they are not suitable for use by children or inexperienced riders. Parents considering buying quad bikes or scramblers for their children this Christmas need to be aware that when used on public roads, they are subject to the same rules as any other mechanically propelled vehicle. They are required to be registered, taxed and in good roadworthy condition. The driver of the vehicle must hold an appropriate driving licence and be insured to drive the vehicle.

Aside from being a danger due to accidents, quads and scrambler bikes represent a fire hazard. Gardaí believe youths on quad bikes and scramblers may have caused a massive fire which burned for days on bogland near Carbury in County Kildare during the summer. It is thought that bike engines, chains or exhausts may have ignited the dry underbrush. The fire, which was beside the Bord na Móna Drehid waste management disposal plant, took several units of Kildare Fire Service and the aid of the Air Corps helicopter to bring it under control.

Local authorities should explore the feasibility of providing suitable spaces for the use of registered quad bikes and scramblers in a safe, controlled and responsible manner. This approach was used with great success to tackle the issue of wandering horses and ponies in the past. I urge all Deputies of all parties and none to support this motion so that this danger in our communities can be regulated properly and so that the Garda will have the powers it needs to deal effectively with the problem.

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