Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for her wider advocacy on this very important issue for many urban areas across Dublin and elsewhere. I am also glad of the opportunity to clarify the enforcement of road safety legislation regarding scramblers. The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 is wide-ranging and has important implications in a number of areas. The Government agrees that the antisocial use of scramblers is an important issue. This is why we are glad to report to Senators today that provisions in the Act that empower members of an Garda Síochána to address this problem were commenced in July. As a result, dangerous driving is now an offence everywhere. This change empowers a member of an Garda Síochána to seize a vehicle being driven dangerously, even on private land. There are also increased powers of seizure where a member reasonably believes that a vehicle is being or is likely to be driven in a manner that is dangerous. This includes whether it is being driven in a manner that is dangerous to the driver. The vehicle can be seized.

The Act creates the power to restrict the use of certain types of vehicle such as scramblers in particular places. I am informed that officials in the Department of Transport are working closely with their road safety partners on these regulations in order to ensure they have the desired effect. It is anticipated that regulations under section 11(b) will be in place towards the end of November and, importantly, before Christmas, when there is typically an increase in the use of vehicles such as scramblers and quad bikes.

The introduction of these provisions will be a further enhancement of the enforcement powers of an Garda Síochána under the provisions already commenced. They now have the powers required to deal with many issues of antisocial scrambler use. From canvassing in my area last week, and as the evenings are starting to get darker again, I am seeing that uptick in complaints from residents about the wide-ranging issues of scramblers. The legislation will help the Garda to address this over the coming period. I thank the Senator for raising this issue.