Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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130. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he and or his officials have engaged with the insurance providers in respect of the insurability of electric bikes and electric scooters; if he will provide the outcome of those engagements; if he has offered direction to the Revenue Commissioners in respect of certain categories of personal e-transport; and the way in which it should proceed with its role in relation to those modes. [60959/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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165. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he and or his officials have engaged with the insurance providers in respect of the insurability of electric bikes and electric scooters in the context of theft of vehicle and personal injury to owners and 3rd parties; if he will provide the outcome of those engagements; and if he will provide an update in respect of his engagements with the Revenue Commissioners in respect of certain categories of personal e-transport. [60960/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 165 together.

The Road Traffic and Roads Bill, currently before the Oireachtas, will clarify the legal position of high-powered and low-powered e-bikes, to provide certainty to the growing cohort of e-bike users in Ireland on the status of their vehicles.

In line with European type-approval legislation governing vehicle categories, high-powered and power-on-demand e-bikes (those with more powerful engines or solely powered by the electric motor) will be considered light mopeds (L-category mechanically propelled vehicles). Accordingly, they will be required to be registered, taxed and insured, as for any other kind of mechanically propelled vehicle. Users will require a relevant driver’s licence for L-category vehicles and the rules of the road for mopeds and motorbikes will apply.

The current arrangements for low-powered, pedal assist e-bikes up to 250W and speeds of 25 km/h - that they are treated under road traffic legislation in the same way as pedal cycles - will be unchanged. This kind of e-bike will continue to be exempt from registration, taxation, insurance and licensing requirements and the rules of the road for bicycles will continue to apply. 

My officials have engaged with the Revenue Commissioners, the vehicle registration authority for the State, and have confirmed the need to register high-powered and power-on-demand e-bikes that have appropriate EU type-approval certification. Where a high-powered or power-on-demand e-bike does not have EU type-approval certification, it will not be legal for use on Irish roads.

Insurance industry representatives have been advised that, as high-powered and power-on-demand e-bikes will be classified as L-category vehicles under EU Type Approval Regulation 168/2013, they will require insurance in the same way as any other type-approved L-category vehicle and that, as they fit into an existing vehicle category, no new insurance products should be required.

The industry has also been advised that, as the Government wishes to encourage micro-mobility as a viable transport option, it is not intended to subject e-scooters, where they conform with the Road Traffic and Roads Bill and subsequent e-scooter regulations, to tax, insurance or registration or the need for a driving licence. E-scooters which do not conform with the legislative provisions will remain illegal to use on Irish roads.