Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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270. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of progress in addressing the issue of scramblers and quad bikes; if he will report on the work of the inter-agency group working on this matter; if he will clarify the views of An Garda Síochána in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25486/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will already be aware, legal advice received from the Office of the Attorney General indicated that, in the main, current road traffic and public order legislation appear to provide sufficient means to police the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes. This view was shared by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and An Garda Síochána at a meeting of the cross-agency group on 15 March.

My Department is continuing to liaise with An Garda Síochána to explore practical solutions to this problem, which are likely to include a combination of targeted enforcement measures, awareness raising, and youth engagement programmes.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend An Garda Síochána for its ongoing efforts to tackle the dangerous anti-social behaviour associated with the misuse of these vehicles. There were two recent incidents in Dublin where such vehicles were being driven dangerously with no licence or insurance, in public areas, including a public park. In both instances the vehicles were seized and the drivers were arrested.