Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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242. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of legislation in preparation to provide a legal framework for the use of e-scooters; the work that has been done to date on that legislation; when it is scheduled to be presented; and his views on whether an opportunity for safe transport in a Covid-19 world is being lost through this gap in legislation. [22269/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Electric scooters are a type of powered personal transporter (PPT). PPTs are classed as mechanically propelled vehicles, the use of which requires a valid licence, tax and appropriate insurance in accordance with Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. As PPTs do not fall under any existing vehicle category, it is not currently possible to tax and insure them and there is no separate licence category for them. Therefore they may not be used on public roads and in public places. However, their use is permitted on private land with the permission of the landowner.

Changes to the legal status of these vehicles are not as simple as declaring them no longer mechanically propelled vehicles. Any changes to this require primary legislation which, as the Deputy will appreciate, may take some time.

I intend to legislate for eScooters in accordance with the Programme for Government. This will involve identifying and developing appropriate amendments to primary legislation across a range of complex areas. The work must be carried out in such a way that it does not undermine the overall framework of Road Traffic Law or Road Safety in general. The Government's current legislative priorities are the necessary measures to manage the Covid 19 crisis and to address its social and economic consequences.

Consequently, no work has commenced on the preparation of legislation yet and it is not currently possible to provide a timeframe. The situation will be kept under review.