Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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227. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to meet with a number of organisations (details supplied) to discuss their concerns regarding the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 in its current form and its implications for persons with access needs; if he will provide details of any engagement he has had to date in this regard with these organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4508/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that the organizations referred to by the Deputy have a number of concerns regarding electric scooters.  These concerns have been expressed to my Department, and include such matters as where the scooters will be used, speed limits, and the possibility of audio warning devices being required.  

When e-scooters first began to appear on our streets, there were no provisions in the law specifically designed to cater for them.  By default, they fit under existing law in the class called 'mechanically propelled vehicles' (MPVs).  It is illegal to use an MPV in a public place without tax, insurance, and an appropriate category of driving licence.  E-scooters cannot be taxed as they are not type approved, and there is no appropriate category of driving licence.  It is therefore, at present, illegal to use them in a public place.

I believe that e-scooters have a role to play as form of emission-free micromobility.  At the same time, they have to be legislated for in a way which will ensure the safety of e-scooter riders and of other road users.  The Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, which has been passed by the Dáil and is currently before the Seanad, addresses e-scooters, among a range of other matters. 

The Bill will a new class of Powered Personal Transporters (PPTs), which will be distinct from MPVs.  In line with standard practice in Road Traffic law, once PPTs are a legal class of vehicle I as Minister will be empowered to make regulations for the construction, equipment and use of PPTs.

The matters of concern raised by the organisations referred to by the Deputy are matters which are dealt with in regulations rather than in Acts, for all classes of vehicle.  PPTs will be no different in that regard, and questions of where PPTs can be used, speed limits applying to them, or whether they should have audio devices are matters which will be addressed in regulations after the necessary enabling powers have been provided by the Bill.

As a general principle, I have always made clear that I see e-scooters as being in a similar position to (pedal) bicycles.  I can confirm that it is my intention that, under regulations, e-scooters will not be permitted to use footpaths.  The views of the organisations referred to, as well as other responses received in the two public consultations already conducted on the issue, will be taken into account in the framing of the regulations.