Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if clarification will be provided on the regulation of e-bikes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60712/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Road Traffic and Roads Bill, which is 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 categories of vehicle, high-powered e-bikes (those with more powerful engines or solely powered by the electric motor) will be considered to be 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 driver’s licence for L-category vehicles and the relevant rules of the road for mopeds and motorbikes will apply.

EU L-category vehicles (motorbikes, mopeds, scooters) require a Category A driving licence, while EU M-category vehicles (cars, small vans) require a Category B licence. Details on licence categories are available from the NDLS via their website: www.ndls.ie/about/licence-categories-and-codes.html#licence-categories.

Work is underway to finalise administrative arrangements for motor tax for this type of vehicle and for the appropriate driver licensing requirements and these are expected to come into effect following the passage of the Bill through the Oireachtas.