Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy, and on behalf of the Minister for Transport, I want to thank him for raising this issue.

He is quite right. A lot of people are speaking about this. We have always been aware, but we have become more acutely aware in recent times, of the serious brain injuries sustained in many cases by children who use e-scooters and the inherent dangers in how e-scooters are being used.

From the Government's perspective, we introduced a comprehensive suite of regulations in 2024 to govern the safe use of e-scooters in public places. These include the Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulations 2024 (SI 199 of 2024), which provides for technical standards and conditions for safe use, including a minimum age of 16 and a speed limit of 20 km/h. The Road Traffic (Signs) Regulations 2024 (SI 200) provides that signs for bicycle use will also apply to e-scooters. The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI 222 of 2024) provides for traffic rules, including forbidding use on motorways, footpaths and pedestrianised areas. The Road Traffic (Use of Powered Personal Transporters) Regulations 2024 (SI 224 of 2024) provides that other types of powered personal transporters, PPT, and e-scooters that do not comply with the regulations will remain illegal to use in public places. There is also the previous regulation from the Road Traffic Act 1994, but I am not going to go into that at the moment. Key limitations are already in place in relation to speed restrictions of 20 km/h and it is illegal for drivers to use them on a footpath, carry passengers or have a seat.

In relation to the Deputy’s question, section 5 of SI 199 of 2024, Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulations 2024, sets a minimum age of 16 for the use of these vehicles. Ongoing consideration is being given to restrict the supply of an e-scooter to persons under the age of 16 by including a provision in the upcoming road traffic Bill, similar to section 30 of the Road Traffic Act 2004.

E-scooters that do not conform with the e-scooter regulations are illegal for use on Irish roads and the enforcement of all road traffic legislation is a matter for An Garda Síochána.

See this speech in context