Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Yesterday on Eden Quay, a 17-year-old boy was stabbed by a group of four or five men. Disturbingly, those involved used e-scooters as getaway vehicles. They were dressed in black clothing and were able to leave the scene quickly. This is not an isolated issue. Across the country, e-scooters are increasingly linked with antisocial behaviour, drug activities and reckless use on footpaths, creating a real risk for families and especially older people. We also know from Temple Street hospital that 20 children under the age of 16 have already presented this year with head injuries from e-scooter incidents, many of them serious, despite the fact they are under-16s and not permitted to use them. I ask the Minister whether the Government is considering further measures or updated legislation in this area, such as vehicle registration for traceability, possible insurance requirements and education for parents and young people, to ensure e-scooters will be used safely and responsibly and not misused for antisocial behaviour and criminal purposes.

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