John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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42. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will introduce a scheme of licensing and registration of quads before purchase can be completed; if there are further actions he could take to alleviate the problem of young unlicensed and uninsured persons driving these quads in housing estates and public parks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38698/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​Under the Road Traffic Acts, the user of a quad bike in a public place must have insurance, road tax and a driving licence, and must also wear a helmet, with severe penalties under the road traffic laws, including fixed charge notices, penalty points, fines and possible seizure of the vehicle, for not being in compliance with these requirements.

For the purposes of the Road Traffic Acts, a "public place" means any public road, and any street, road or other place to which the public have access with vehicles.   Road traffic law does not extend to the use of mechanically propelled vehicles on private property where such conditions do not apply.  Local authorities can introduce bye-laws to prohibit the use of such vehicles in municipal parks.  The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has similar powers to control off-road vehicles in national parks, and the unauthorised use of off-road vehicles in prohibited in certain national parks. The Road Traffic Act 2004 makes it an offence to supply a mechanically propelled vehicle to a person under 16 years of age, including a gift or loan, with severe penalties on conviction.  Mini-motorised scooters, micro-motorcycles and quadricycles all come within the definition of a mechanically propelled vehicle for road traffic law purposes.

Enforcement of the road traffic laws are a matter for An Garda Síochána, and I am informed that they are satisfied that they have the necessary powers to deal with cases concerning the use of quads, scrambler bikes and similar vehicles under the Road Traffic Acts.  Notwithstanding this, I will discuss the matter with my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality to see if there are any legislative amendments needed to specifically deal with the issues raised by the Deputy.