Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I take this opportunity to thank Superintendent Tony Twomey, who was behind the seizure of some quad bikes in Cherry Orchard recently. That was a proactive move and many locals are glad of the relative quiet on their roads since then. Some roads, however, have been and are plagued by an element who are racing up and down, oblivious to the noise they are making and to the danger they pose to children and the elderly in parks or on paths as they hurtle past loudly. Those getting kicks from continuously revving the quad and scrambler bikes and other off-road vehicles on small narrow roads, racing each other on the main roads or ploughing up football pitches in local parks do not care for local people, for children playing or for peaceful neighbourhoods.

We have, regrettably, seen the consequences of their indifference and their destruction. Tens of thousands of euro annually must be spent fixing pitches, railings and paths in public parks. This element also seems to be indifferent even to the deaths and injuries they cause to themselves and others when they lose control. At this time of the year, the message needs to go out, loud and clear, that these vehicles are not toys. They should not be bought for children or for teenagers at Christmas. I ask that people not be part of the scourge on our communities.

Garda Inspector David O'Brien said at the inquest of a teenager who died in a tragic scrambler accident in Cherry Orchard more than five years ago that:

These bikes are made for off-road conditions such as grass, fields and wooded areas. Their tyres are like studs on a football boot. They should not have been anywhere near a road surface.

The purpose of our motion is to get the Government to tackle this scourge once and for all. We need our public paths, parks and canals to be safe where people can walk or play. A co-ordinated approach between the Garda and Dublin City Council can deliver if the Government closes the loopholes and gives the gardaí access to and powers in public parks. A proper licensing and registration regime should also be introduced immediately for scrambler and quad bikes. We also need an all-Ireland approach. The sale of such vehicles in the North is banned, unless a person is a farmer or the like.

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