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

I come to this debate very frustrated but hopeful the issue can be progressed. I look forward to the rest of the debate, and no doubt I will hear stories from various Deputies. The misuse of quads and scrambler bikes in our public spaces is a problem stretching back years, as we heard from the previous speaker. From the dangers posed to both untrained users and pedestrians to the scars left on our parks and playing pitches, the difficulties presented by these noisy death traps are immense.

Over the years, I, like others, have been contacted by local elderly residents and young families who are almost afraid to step foot outside their door in case they are knocked down by scramblers tearing by their front gate. Without helmets, safety gear or training, the riders of these machines are a menace and a threat. I have lost track of the number of times I have seen a previously perfect playing pitch or a patch of grassland in a park torn up and left looking as though it has been ploughed up, due to the wanton vandalism of these scramblers and bikes. Our parks and green areas should be inclusive spaces, but in many cases they are not.

There is also clear evidence these bikes are being used by some to transport drugs within our communities. I would like the Garda to be empowered to be more proactive in tackling that through seizures, but that is part of the difficulty we have faced in the past. I recall raising the issue years ago with the local superintendent, who talked about gardaí being trained and upskilled and so on. There was a different approach in one part of Dublin city, where there was a representative from that area, but in our area we did not take a proactive approach, although action was taken by the Garda. Children are being drafted as drug couriers because while the Garda can stop a car, the law is much murkier in regard to stopping a scrambler, and that is just the type of problem we need to fix.

As I was preparing for the debate, I came across a contribution of mine to the Misuse of Motor Vehicles (Public Spaces) Bill, which my colleague Deputy Ellis had introduced. I spoke in this Chamber on that Bill in March 2014. That is how long Sinn Féin has been trying to get this matter sorted. We have for seven years been trying to get the Government of the day to take this seriously. Part of the problem related to the fact the Ministers of the day did not have the necessary experience or did not realise it was a problem. I think there is a difference between rural and urban areas in respect of this matter but it is not just a Dublin, Limerick or Cork problem. It is a problem growing throughout the State.

Three years ago, when I spoke to Deputy Ellis's Road Traffic (Quads and Scramblers) (Amendment) Bill, I was told by the then Minister of State with responsibility for the matter, Jim Daly, that a multi-agency task force was devoted to tackling the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes by a number of means, including enhanced enforcement measures, education and awareness-raising measures, and relevant legislation. Nevertheless, scramblers still tear past people's houses, probably even at this hour of the day, as we speak. Two years ago, I asked the then Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, what his plans were. I was again told about a multi-Department committee, but scramblers still rip up our parks. It baffles me that something as simple as banning the use of quads and scramblers from public spaces has become a seven-year saga that has suffered from a lack of support or interest from whichever government was in power.

I commend my colleague Deputy Ellis, and others such as Deputy Paul Donnelly, who spoke earlier, on not letting the matter drop and on continuing to push to make our streets, parks and other public spaces safer. I regret the response from the Government has always been about what cannot be done and not what can. The key issue we want to hear from the Minister of State during this debate relates to what can be done. I want an end to these vehicles being driven on our roads, in our parks and in a way that destroys pitches and green spaces. What is more, their use destroys residents' quality of life. Parks should be inclusive spaces but they are not, with people excluded because of the reckless activities of others. It is wrong that people are afraid to enter their local park, as was especially evident during the lockdowns, when people would have loved to use their local park but in many cases were too frightened to do so.

The Road Safety Authority, RSA, has stated that half of all accidents related to quads or scramblers involve riders under the age of 18. I appeal to parents to recognise the danger they are putting their children in by buying these vehicles. Christmas is coming in three months' time. It is still far away but many people will be already thinking about it. If their children have nowhere to ride a scrambler or quad except for the local park, down the street, on the footpath or just outside the house, I ask parents, please, not to buy one for them. That is one message we can all agree on.

This is a story of two Irelands. The issue does not affect every area. I recall some rural Deputies stating previously in the House that a ban would impact on farmers being able to travel from one field to another. It is not about that. It is about what is happening on our streets. We need to hear what action is happening. The use of these vehicles dominates many people's environment. A woman rings me at least once a week to tell me what is going on. She cannot participate in Zoom meetings because people will ask whether her washing machine is turned on or somebody is using the vacuum cleaner and so on. This is happening day and night in that woman's area. I could take the Minister of State, if he is interested, to a number of areas in my constituency where this happens daily. I guarantee the House it is happening now and there will be no Garda response. In many cases, because of the current law, the Garda does not want to get involved. There is too much danger involved in it, including for the people using these bikes, but we need to do something for our constituents and respond to their needs.

See this speech in context