Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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297. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department and Transport Infrastructure Ireland will conduct an examination of an area (details supplied) to determine if the area will be considered an accident blackspot and resultingly if traffic calming measures can be implemented in the interest of road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63563/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you in relation to the N68 at Darragh, Co. Clare.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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298. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether his Department is considering introducing legislation to prohibit e-scooter users from wearing non-high-visibility clothing and to restrict the wearing of full-face coverings while operating an e-scooter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63569/25]

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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299. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the existing rules and regulations surrounding the wearing of helmets and high-visibility clothing when operating an e-scooter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63570/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 299 together.

I wish to inform the Deputy that although the wearing of helmets and high-visibility clothing is not statutory, it is highly recommended by both the Department of Transport and the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

A statutory obligation to wear reflective clothing or helmets would require making it a criminal offence under road traffic legislation not to do so. The e-scooter user would then be issued with a fixed charge notice or summonsed to court, depending on the procedure in place for such offences. This would place a substantial additional burden on the resources of both the Courts and of An Garda Síochána.

On this basis, it has long been the view of my Department that the wearing of reflective clothing and helmets, for e-scooters, pedal cycles and e-bikes, is best promoted by educational and publicity campaigns, rather than by a punitive approach.

The RSA, which has responsibility for the promotion of road safety awareness and dissemination of road safety information, frequently undertakes campaigns to promote awareness, among pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooter users, of the need for personal protective equipment and visibility on our roads. The safety benefits of reflective clothing and helmets are also set out in detail in the Rules of the Road Booklet.