Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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126. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the engagement he has had with insurance companies and representatives regarding the legislation on e-scooters and e-bikes. [8992/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In line with the Programme for Government, I intend to legislate to address escooters and similar vehicles, and also ebikes. This will be done via amendments which I will introduce to the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill during its passage through the Oireachtas.

It is my intention that escooters and other such vehicles - which will be classed as 'powered personal transporters' (PPTs) - will be treated more like bicycles than like mechanically propelled vehicles, and will not be required to have insurance. The same will be the case with ebikes.

I have recently written to the key stakeholders with responsibilities in this area outlining the approach being taken to the regulation of PPTs so that they can assess the proposals and give informed comments and among those i have written to are Insurance Ireland and the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland. I understand that the insurance industry did also offer submissions to a consultation on escooters carried out by my Department under my predecessor.